UF Health North held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 8 for its new $140 million patient tower at 15255 Max Leggett Parkway east of Jacksonville International Airport and River City Marketplace.
The second tower adds 124 patient rooms. There are two floors dedicated to patients needing acute physical therapy. Another floor will be devoted to ancillary services.
“We are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care that’s convenient for patients and we look forward to meeting the growing needs of residents here and throughout Florida,” said Stephen Motew, UF Health president and system CEO in a news release.
When the hospital opened in 2015, it provided a 24/7 emergency room, outpatient surgery suites, diagnostic services and physician offices.
In 2017, it added a five-floor, 92-bed patient tower. Four floors were private rooms. Another 24 beds were dedicated to maternity care. Two 24-bed floors were dedicated to general medical inpatients.
UF Health North held a groundbreaking for the 225,200-square-foot expansion in March 2022.
The new tower is a partnership between UF Health and Select Medical.
The second and third floors have a gymnasium and outdoor space.
“This is another significant step as the University of Florida and UF Health expand our reach and dedication to education, innovation and health care throughout Northeast Florida,” said Ben Sasse, president of the University of Florida, in the release.
After the ribbon-cutting, Sasse had no information about the timeline on the University of Florida Downtown Jacksonville campus. He also declined to discuss the possibility of Jacksonville being the new home of the University of Florida Semiconductor Institute.
“What’s wonderful is that Tallahassee decided to fund the Semiconductor Institute to the tune of $80 million. It’s a clear demonstration of the state’s commitment to thinking about the workforce of the future," Sasse said after the event.
"It’s an important growth sector and, obviously with tensions in the South China Sea, there is an increasing importance for the U.S. to be investing in semiconductors,” he said.
