Turner, Barton Malow and Dixon Reach Topping-Out Milestone on Henry Ford Health Patient Tower

Highlights

• Turner, Barton Malow and Dixon completed vertical steel construction on Henry Ford Health’s new patient tower in Detroit.
• The tower is part of the $2.2 billion Destination: Grand hospital redevelopment program.
• Crews installed approximately 6,800 tons of structural steel since construction began in September 2024.
• The 20-story expansion will add 1.2 million square feet to the Henry Ford Hospital campus.
• The facility will include 432 private patient rooms, 28 operating suites and a 75,000-square-foot emergency department.

Construction teams have completed the structural steel phase for Henry Ford Health’s new patient tower in Detroit, marking a major milestone in one of the largest healthcare redevelopment projects currently underway in the Midwest.

Turner Construction, working in partnership with Barton Malow and Dixon, celebrated the topping out of the 20-story tower as part of the broader Destination: Grand redevelopment initiative at Henry Ford Hospital’s New Center campus.

Structural Construction Progress

Project teams lifted a 32-foot steel beam into place at the top of the structure during the topping-out ceremony, signaling the completion of vertical steel installation for the new tower.

Construction crews have installed roughly 6,800 tons of structural steel and accumulated more than 600,000 labor hours since groundbreaking activities began in September 2024.

The patient tower represents the central component of the $2.2 billion Destination: Grand program, which is redeveloping the hospital campus originally established more than a century ago.

Hospital Expansion Plans

The 1.2 million-square-foot expansion is designed to modernize inpatient and emergency care capacity at Henry Ford Hospital.

Plans for the tower include 432 private patient rooms equipped with integrated digital and smart-care systems, along with specialized intensive care units and 28 operating suites intended for advanced surgical procedures.

The project also includes a 75,000-square-foot emergency department featuring 100 private treatment spaces, fast-track treatment areas and dedicated behavioral health emergency services.

Healthcare Construction Activity Continues Across Major Markets

Large-scale healthcare construction programs continue to drive institutional building activity in major metropolitan markets as health systems expand capacity, modernize aging facilities and integrate advanced medical technology into new developments.

For contractors and project owners, the Henry Ford Health expansion highlights the scale of coordination required for complex urban healthcare projects involving multiple construction partners, phased campus operations and long-term redevelopment planning. The project also reflects sustained investment in hospital infrastructure despite broader market pressures affecting labor availability and material procurement across the construction sector.

Source: Turner Construction.