Governor Kathy Hochul has rolled up her sleeves, readying the State University of New York Downstate Health Services University (SUNY Downstate) Hospital for some major upgrades. With a hefty $1.1 billion tagged for this significant overhaul, SUNY Downstate is looking to shed some years off its appearance - and operations. The investment aims to rejuvenate infrastructure, revamp patient rooms, and expand the emergency department, detailed in a release by the Governor's Office.
This isn't just a facelift; it's a strategic move to ensure Brooklyn residents get the high-quality medical care they've been asking for. Splitting the project into two, the first part targets sprucing up the existing facility and converting semi-private rooms into private suites. On top of this, a swanky new annex focused on cardiology and oncology is set to rise, promising cutting-edge ambulatory surgical services.
In a statement obtained by Governor Office, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. emphasized SUNY Downstate's critical role for Brooklynites. The Governor and her legislative crew have earmarked $750 million in the FY 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 Enacted Budgets, with SUNY ponying up from its annual capital to hit the billion-dollar mark over the project's expected timeline.
Architectural and engineering firms WJL Architecture & Engineering DPC DBA Ewing Cole, along with Perkins Eastman Architects, DPC, have the honors of steering the design portion of the renovation and expansion. Both firms are keyed in on involving local MWBE and SDVOB contractors to hit important diversity targets in their subcontracting. Updates on these ambitious endeavors can be tracked over at astrongerdownstate.org – so keep an eye out.
The wait for better healthcare in Central Brooklyn appears to be getting considerably shorter. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso highlighted the exhaustive wait for resources that SUNY Downstate has had to endure, while New York City Councilmember Farah N. Louis rang the praise bell for what is touted as transformative investment for the institution serving as a healthcare linchpin for the community.
