Cooper University Health Care announced the groundbreaking on the first phase of a $3 billion expansion of its health sciences campus in Camden, N.J. In a ceremony recently, the company said the New Jersey construction project, “Project Imagine,” would claim the top spot as the largest building investment in Camden’s history.
Cooper University Health Care, or Cooper Health, announced the project in 2022 and expects it to address the medical center’s clinical, ancillary, educational, research, and support needs.
Construction jobs
The megaproject is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs, significantly boosting the local economy. Once completed, Project Imagine will also create hundreds of permanent positions in healthcare and related fields.
Key features of ‘Project Imagine’
Three New Patient Towers
The centerpiece of Project Imagine will be the construction of three new patient towers, which will accommodate up to 745 private-room inpatient beds. Administrators said this significant increase in capacity is essential to support the rising demand for healthcare services in the region.
Enhanced Surgical and Emergency Services
The project will expand surgical and healthcare intervention capabilities and create a modern emergency department. A bridge connecting the new hospital tower to the MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper will facilitate seamless patient care and collaboration between the facilities.
Regional Emergency Preparedness
A new Regional Medical Coordination Center (RMCC) will be established, enhancing emergency response capacity throughout New Jersey. Administrators said this initiative is crucial for strengthening the state’s healthcare infrastructure, particularly during crises.
Tower A: First phase construction details
The project’s first construction phase is a 10-story, 35,000-square-foot hospital tower located at the corner of MLK and Haddon Avenue, directly across from the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The new facility, Tower A, is scheduled for completion by 2028 and will include:
- 125 Acuity-Adaptable Private Rooms: Equipped with advanced technology to cater to diverse patient needs.
- Expanded Women’s Services: Dedicated labor and delivery rooms and a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
- Increased Surgical Capacity: Addition of operating rooms will address the growing demand for surgical services.
- Emergency Preparedness Infrastructure: A new medical command center to serve the region.
- Education and Research Spaces: A medical library and learning area to support Cooper’s academic mission.
Cooper University Health Care is a leading academic health system affiliated with the MD Anderson Cancer Center and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, employing over 11,000 and generating revenues exceeding $2 billion.
Cooper University Hospital serves over two million patients annually from its 663-bed Camden, NJ facility and 229-bed hospital in Cape May Court House.
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