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UCHealth breaks ground on major Memorial Hospital North expansion

UCHealth breaks ground on major Memorial Hospital North expansion

Built World

Six-story tower, new operating rooms, and 875-space garage lift capacity from 140 to 190 beds

Today: Construction Review publishes groundbreaking report

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

UCHealth broke ground October 13 on a $463 million expansion of Memorial Hospital North in Colorado Springs. The project adds a six-story inpatient tower, four new operating rooms, and an 875-space parking garage, lifting the hospital from 140 to 190 beds.

The expansion responds to sustained demand. Between 2020 and 2025, hospitalizations rose 25 percent, emergency visits climbed 41 percent, and surgeries grew 59 percent. The hospital's medical and surgical units averaged 94 percent occupancy in 2025, often hitting 100 percent.

Why it matters

The expansion nearly doubles the hospital's footprint and adds 300 jobs, easing bed shortages that force patients to wait in the emergency department.

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Key Indicators

$463M
Project cost
Budget at October 2026 groundbreaking, up from $407M estimate in December 2024.
190
Bed capacity after expansion
Up from 140 beds, with room to grow to 320 in the future.
875
Parking spaces in new garage
Six-level covered garage on the east side of campus, opening spring 2028.
300
New employees
Added to the current workforce of about 1,200 at the hospital.
94%
Average occupancy, 2025
Medical and surgical units often hit 100 percent, forcing ED holds.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

December 2024 2029

8 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. All renovations complete, hospital reaches 190 beds

    Upcoming Construction

    The six-story tower and all renovations are scheduled to finish by summer 2029, adding 50 beds and 300 employees.

  2. Parking garage opens with 875 spaces

    Upcoming Construction

    The six-level covered garage is scheduled to open in spring 2028, the first new feature to come online.

  3. Parking garage groundbreaking scheduled

    Upcoming Construction

    The 875-space garage on the east side of campus is set to be the first new feature to break ground.

  4. Construction Review publishes groundbreaking report

    Today Report

    Construction Review detailed the project scope, cost increase, and construction timeline in its coverage of the ceremony.

  5. UCHealth breaks ground on $463M expansion

    Construction

    Official groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion, now budgeted at $463 million, up 14 percent from the 2024 estimate.

  6. Utility relocation work begins

    Construction

    JE Dunn began relocating utilities to prepare for a vertical addition atop the Sterile Processing Department.

  7. Cancer center adds second linear accelerator

    Expansion

    A $3.4 million project doubled the oncology department's treatment capacity, separate from the tower plan.

  8. UCHealth announces $407M expansion plan

    Announcement

    UCHealth unveiled plans to nearly double Memorial Hospital North's size, with a six-story tower, new operating rooms, and a parking garage.

Scenarios

1

Construction completes on schedule by summer 2029

Likely Resolves by Q3 2029

Discussed by: UCHealth officials and JE Dunn

The three-year build proceeds as planned. The parking garage opens in spring 2028, the six-story tower follows, and all renovations finish by summer 2029. The hospital reaches 190 beds and adds 300 employees.

2

Cost overruns push project past $500 million

Possible Resolves by Q3 2029

Discussed by: Project history (budget already rose from $407M to $463M)

The project budget, already 14 percent above the December 2024 estimate, continues to climb. Supply costs, labor shortages, or construction delays push the final figure past $500 million.

3

Delays push completion past 2029

Unlikely Resolves by End of 2029

Discussed by: Construction complexity (building around active hospital operations)

The challenge of building without disrupting daily operations causes schedule slips. Utility relocation, the vertical addition over the Sterile Processing Department, or other complications push completion into 2030 or later.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2007

Memorial Hospital North opens (2007)

The hospital opened as a community hospital in northern Colorado Springs to serve the growing Briargate area. It was built as a 140-bed facility to relieve pressure on Memorial Hospital Central, east of downtown.

Then

The hospital became the primary care option for northern El Paso County residents.

Now

It has since undergone two expansions, reflecting sustained population growth in the area.

Why this matters now

The current expansion continues a pattern of growth at this campus, now the largest single investment in its history.

2018

First expansion: ED and operating rooms (2018)

Memorial Hospital North enlarged its emergency department and added operating rooms to meet rising demand in the Briargate area.

Then

The hospital increased its surgical and emergency capacity.

Now

Demand continued to outpace capacity, leading to the current $463 million project.

Why this matters now

The 2018 expansion showed the demand trajectory that now justifies the much larger tower project.

2019

Second expansion: birth center and oncology (2019)

The hospital added a birth center, pharmacy, and oncology services in early 2019, broadening its specialty care offerings.

Then

Patients gained access to maternity and cancer care closer to home.

Now

The oncology center has continued to grow, adding a second linear accelerator in 2026.

Why this matters now

The 2019 expansion established the specialty care base that the current project will further expand.

Sources

(7)