Rochester University to Construct a $240 Million Orthopaedic Center, Extending Surgical and Outpatient Services

The University of Rochester Medical Center (UR Medicine) has announced plans for a new orthopaedic and performance center, set to be built alongside The Marketplace Mall. If approvals and construction proceed as expected, the campus could be completed by 2023.

The project, which is subject to approval by the University of Rochester Board of Trustees, New York State Department of Health, and Town of Henrietta, aims to address the skyrocketing demand for orthopaedic care in recent years and the need for additional capacity.

The Department of Orthopaedics plans to offer forward-thinking approaches to care with the new center, with a focus on helping patients stay healthy, mobile, and fit. The UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center will combine ambulatory surgery and other essential orthopaedic services in one convenient spot.

Initial plans for the project will be presented to Henrietta's Town Board on Nov. 25 as the first step in seeking approvals for the project to move forward. The plans call for repurposing the vacant Sears building as the shell for the new ambulatory surgery center.

The center will be nearly three times the size of UR Medicine's largest orthopaedic outpatient facility at Clinton Crossings. The majority of UR Medicine's orthopaedic outpatient programs at Clinton Crossings will move to the new site. UR Medicine Orthopaedics will retain its other suburban locations in Victor, Webster, Greece, and Penfield.

The new medical center will incorporate several innovative programs, such as Fitness Science at CHAMPP, Workplace Wellness, and sports-specific health clinics, aimed at reducing the risk of orthopaedic injury and promoting overall wellness.

New construction will create a multi-story tower above the surgery center to house diagnostic imaging, clinic exam rooms, physical therapy, sports medicine facilities, and more. The Marketplace Mall is being considered for the new medical center due to its proximity to the Thruway and Interstate 390, availability of public transportation, existing utilities, and ample space for parking and expansion.

The project costs for the Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center are estimated to be $227 million, to be paid for through a combination of philanthropy, University funds, and borrowing. UR Medicine also has additional plans for the orthopaedic campus, including construction of an athletic fieldhouse for CHAMPP and facilities for orthopaedic research and physician training.

The number of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to double from roughly 50 million today to nearly 100 million by 2060, increasing the demand for orthopaedic care. The new medical center will be in line with a growing national trend of reclamation and repurposing of massive mall properties by academic medical centers.

The UR Medicine Orthopaedics & Physical Performance Center is expected to be the biggest offsite building project in University of Rochester history, covering approximately 330,000 square feet. The center is set to offer a comprehensive range of orthopaedic services, aiming to improve the health and wellness of the community.

Rochester University to Construct a $240 Million Orthopaedic Center, Extending Surgical and Outpatient Services