Henry Ford Health Takes Major Step Forward as First Physical Signs of “Destination: Grand” Vision Come to Life

DETROIT – It was a thrilling moment Monday as Henry Ford Health team members, patients, neighbors and community supporters saw the system take its first “official” construction step towards its $2 billion vision to transform its century-old flagship academic medical campus into a state-of-the-art destination for care.

Demolition has begun on a now-vacant former office building at the southwest corner of West Grand Boulevard and the Lodge Freeway service drive in Detroit. The removal of the building and ensuing cleanup, which is expected to last a few months, will pave the way for crews to start work on a vibrant and modernized new patient tower. 

The new patient tower—a major component of Henry Ford Hospital’s historic 1.2 million square-foot expansion—will include all private patient rooms with technology and comfort upgrades, and a three-floor world-class rehabilitation hospital through a partnership with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. The patient tower will be connected to the new hospital facility, including an expanded emergency department with universal rooms and technically advanced operating suites.

“This moment represents the start of something truly special,” said Jerry Darby, Henry Ford Health’s Vice President of Campus Planning, Development and Design. “Our broad vision, along with our key partners, to reimagine and redefine how healthcare is delivered in Detroit and beyond has the potential to impact countless lives. We are so energized as we take these first physical steps in the construction process toward creating Detroit’s healthcare facility of the future.”

The demolition itself isn’t an implosion, nor will it be done with a wrecking ball; rather, the building will be taken apart piece by piece, a process that’s intended to also keep dust levels low. In addition, crews will be recycling as much building material as possible.

Construction of the new hospital facility and patient tower is expected to begin later this year, with the expansion slated to open in 2029. Anyone interested in learning about or staying updated on the project is encouraged to visit www.futureofhealthdetroit.com or www.henryford.com/detroitcampusupdates, or call (313) 874-2488 to hear recorded updates. 

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MEDIA INQUIRIES: mediarelations@hfhs.org