NIH Breaks Ground on Surgery, Radiology, and Laboratory Medicine Expansion

The National Institutes of Health broke ground in May of 2023 on a $630 million addition to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda. Designed by HOK, the Surgery, Radiology, and Laboratory Medicine Wing will enable the discovery of innovative diagnostics, therapies, and cures for a wide range of diseases and conditions. The 547,290-sf facility will house the departments of perioperative medicine, radiology and imagining sciences, and laboratory medicine, as well providing lab space for the National Cancer Institute and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Offices, conference rooms, and collaboration venues will foster knowledge exchange across disciplines, enhancing the delivery of team-based care in the building’s surgical suites and inpatient environments. 

Standing nine stories above grade with two subterranean levels, the highly flexible building will integrate advanced infrastructure that can easily adapt to changing programs. Flanked by two mechanical towers, the development will include a 780-vehicle parking garage with a dedicated utility floor for operational and emergency electrical systems. Targeting LEED Gold sustainable design certification, the biophilic facility will enhance occupant wellbeing through the incorporation of large windows and light wells, complemented by lush gardens with bioretention ponds for stormwater management. Occupancy is expected in 2029. Hensel Phelps is the general contractor for the project, which will also include an 82,150-sf renovation of the main hospital’s clinical research wing.