Future of Health Frequently Asked Questions
Henry Ford Hospital Project
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Joint Research Facility
Live, Work, Play in New Center
Henry Ford Hospital Project
What is Henry Ford Health doing on its Detroit campus?
- We are planning a major expansion of Henry Ford Hospital including a new, state-of-the art hospital facility and patient tower across the street from the existing hospital.
- With the expansion expected to provide more than one million square feet of additional space, the reimagined Henry Ford Hospital will operate on both sides of West Grand Boulevard, connected through a series of bridges for seamless navigation.
What is included in the new facility and tower?
- A brand-new and expanded emergency department with universal rooms and specialized space for trauma care and behavioral health
- Modernized acute and intensive care units
- Technically advanced operating suites
- Cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology labs
- Diagnostic and interventional radiology
- All private patient rooms, with dedicated spaces for care teams, families and visitors
- Technology upgrades to help care teams and increase comfort and convenience for patients and their families during their stays
- New inpatient rehabilitation hospital in partnership with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
What will happen to the current hospital?
- We will continue to operate services on both sides of West Grand Boulevard, including inpatient beds in several units of the existing hospital and our West Pavilion, which is the newest part of the current hospital.
- All patient rooms that are currently not private will be converted to private rooms.
- Some areas of the current Henry Ford Hospital building will be converted into multi-use space, which could include offices and other non-patient care spaces.
When will construction start and finish?
- Construction is scheduled to begin 2024. We expect the new facility to be open for patients in 2029.
As a patient, will my care be disrupted?
- No; you can expect the same world-class care you’ve come to know as a Henry Ford Health patient during construction.
Where will people park during construction?
- As with all construction projects, from time to time there may be some impacts to where people park. We will communicate those in advance and provide alternatives while parking may be impacted.
Will this facility be environmentally conscious?
- Yes. We aspire to be leaders in sustainability, even having signed the White House Health Sector Climate Pledge in 2022 which commits us to cutting our greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.
- We are proud to share our new facility is being designed to operate carbon neutral.
- As we design the expansion, we are prioritizing environmental stewardship through efforts like selecting sustainable materials, avoiding products with harmful chemicals, creating engaging shared green spaces and lowering energy costs and impact.
- We’ll release more specifics on our sustainability plans as we finalize design.
How will you ensure equity/supplier diversity in this project?
- We commit to being socially responsible through the partners we choose – working alongside those with shared values and a common mission to improve lives and be a catalyst for change.
- All vendor contracts contain targets of 35% commitments from minority- and women-owned businesses, and we will work with our selected partners to engage and include diverse subcontractors while measuring and monitoring performance toward supplier diversity goals.
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Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences Joint Research Facility
What is the plan for the Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University joint research facility?
- As we previously announced, we are planning to build a joint healthcare research facility for Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences. It will be located where Henry Ford’s Third Street parking lot currently sits, across the street from the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center and One Ford Place.
Where are you in the design and construction process?
- We’re collaborating closely with our partners at MSU on details such as building design, types of research that will be housed there, cost and financial plans.
Where will the new research facility be located?
- It will be built along Third Street, across from the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center and Henry Ford’s One Ford Place.
What will be happening at the research facility?
- We’re working in partnership with MSU to determine which research disciplines will be housed in this building; we expect disciplines like cancer, neuroscience and cardiovascular/metabolic research.
- The building will be home to the Nick Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Research Institute (NGNFRI) in partnership with the Gilbert Family Foundation. NGNFRI will collaborate with research institutions and researchers from around the world to work towards a cure for Neurofibromatosis.
- We expect at least 500 people to work in this building.
When will construction begin and end?
- We plan to break ground in 2024 and expect to open in 2027.
Where will people park during construction?
- As with most large construction projects, parking may be impacted. We will communicate parking alternatives as soon as they’re determined.
- As part of this construction, we plan to build a parking deck to accommodate the growing need for parking.
What are our partnership goals with MSU?
- The product of a landmark, 30-year partnership, Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences is focused on setting a new standard for how individuals and communities experience care across the state of Michigan and the nation.
- Together our organizations have the collective knowledge, skills and drive to usher in a new era of healthcare transformation, medical education and research excellence. Our unique partnership is a catalyst for change, reimagining how we think about, innovate and deliver health and wellness.
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Live, Work, Play in New Center
Where is the area Henry Ford Health is looking to develop in partnership with the Detroit Pistons?
- This is an area within the New Center neighborhood that encompasses the space south of West Grand Boulevard, north of I-94, east of M-10/The Lodge and west of Second Avenue. It’s where both Henry Ford Health and the Detroit Pistons have their current headquarters.
What is the goal?
- Together with our partners, we’ve carefully designed a multi-phase, multi-year development plan intended to be a catalyst for sustained investment.
- We will work alongside our partners to transform this area into a walkable and connected community infused with innovative mixed income living spaces, retail and dining options, and green space. A possible hotel is also being vetted for viability.
- The development will be anchored by a new state-of-the-art joint medical research facility for Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences.
- This project is about the “big picture” – establishing a significant building block in the investment in and economic development of the city and focusing on a neighborhood that falls outside of the traditional downtown scope.
What does the plan include?
- We plan to create a dynamic walkable, connected community and green space.
- The plan includes residential development, which will include the eventual transformation of Henry Ford Health’s One Ford Place building (550+ units) as well as an affordable housing component.
- A new state-of-the-art joint medical research facility for Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences.
- Publicly accessible retail space with restaurant options.
- A possible hotel development, which is currently being evaluated for viability.
- A multi-story parking deck just north of the research building.
- Centralized community park and green space areas with outdoor basketball courts across Amsterdam Street to the south of the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center; we expect this to be 85,000 square feet of green space.
Who’s involved in this plan?
- The Detroit Pistons and Henry Ford Health are partnering on the overall development plan and vision. The joint research building is a collaboration between Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University.
Why is Henry Ford Health doing this?
- We have long believed that our mission extends far beyond the traditional healthcare services we provide. As a long-time anchor institution in Detroit and Michigan, we are also a key economic driver, which includes stewarding development in the communities we serve, creating opportunities for employment and minority-owned businesses, removing barriers to health and wellness, and meeting unmet needs – especially in traditionally underserved populations.
- Henry Ford Health and the Detroit Pistons are uniquely positioned to lead this reimagination – committed to preserving the neighborhood’s rich history while infusing innovative solutions for a thriving, sustainable future that extends far beyond its borders.
What’s the total investment?
- The entire vision we are sharing is estimated to be $2.5 billion – that number may adjust as plans are finalized. This includes the Henry Ford Hospital expansion and joint research building.
What’s your plan for affordable housing?
- We’re deeply committed to bringing affordable housing options to our neighborhood. We’re working aggressively to finalize our affordable housing plans and will announce those details as soon as we’re able.
How will you ensure equity/supplier diversity in this project?
- We commit to being socially responsible through the partners we choose – working alongside those with shared values and a common mission to improve lives and be a catalyst for change.
- All vendor contracts contain targets of 35% commitments from minority- and women-owned businesses, and we will work with our selected partners to engage and include diverse subcontractors while measuring and monitoring performance toward supplier diversity goals.
Will this development be environmentally conscious?
- Yes. We aspire to be leaders in sustainability and are committed to doing that in this project. As we finalize our plans, we’ll release more specific details about our plans for sustainability.
Where will we park during and after construction?
- As with most large construction projects, parking may be impacted at times. We will communicate parking alternatives as soon as they’re determined.
What will happen to One Ford Place and when?
- There are no immediate plans to vacate One Ford Place.
- The One Ford Place building, which houses research, administrative and other teams, will be renovated into a mixed-use development including residential units, retail space and more.
- To minimize disruption to the administrative, research and other teams based at OFP, construction will not begin at OFP until the HFH + MSU research building is completed, expected in the first half of 2027.
Why is Henry Ford Health partnered with the Pistons? What’s the history of this partnership?
- Henry Ford Health and the Detroit Pistons announced a long-term partnership in 2017. As part of the partnership, Henry Ford is the official health care provider for the Pistons.
- We have a shared commitment to the city of Detroit, the neighborhood we call home and the people we serve in this community – including being catalysts for economic development and neighborhood vitality.
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