More than 300 people heard from leaders in the healthcare construction field this morning at The Alliance for Action’s event.

Healthcare accounts for roughly one-fifth of the U.S. economy, and the hospitals, research facilities and medical campuses supporting that industry continue to drive billions in construction activity across New Jersey.

More than 300 industry leaders gathered this morning at the Alliance for Action’s 15th Annual Healthcare Construction Conference to hear first-hand details on more than $10 billion in planned projects spanning hospitals, research facilities and healthcare campuses throughout the region.

Construction leaders representing major health systems across the state detailed projects ranging from billion-dollar hospital expansions to entirely new campuses and medical towers. For the first time, Merck also joined the program to discuss long-term investment plans at its Rahway headquarters.

“There are very few places where you can hear directly from the people planning more than $10 billion in healthcare investment in a single room,” said Jerry Keenan, President of the NJ Alliance for Action. “From hospital systems planning billion-dollar expansions to Merck joining the conversation for the first time, this event continues to deliver the road map our members need to understand what’s coming next and where the opportunities are.”

Among the speakers and highlights:

• Atlantic Health (Bob Peake, VP of Facilities Management, Construction & Real Estate): Morristown Medical Center is moving forward with a nearly $1 billion expansion program alongside broader investments across the health system. Plans call for roughly a decade of activity transforming the Morristown campus.

• Hackensack Meridian Health (Donald Ferrell, Senior VP of Facilities, Construction & Realty; Erin Egan, VP of Facilities, and Ed Christian, Vice President, Enterprise Master Planning & Construction): Officials detailed progress on the MetroPark headquarters and plans for a new eight-story clinical tower at Jersey Shore Medical Center.

• Cooper University Health Care (Andy Bush, VP of Real Estate): The health system continues work on the first phase of its $3 billion Project Imagine initiative, with the first tower expected to open in 2028. Additional projects include a planned satellite facility in Gloucester Township representing roughly $300 million in investment and work beginning on the Benson Pavilion in Camden.

• Inspira Health (John Saffioti, Senior VP of Operations, and Jason Copare, VP of Operations): Officials outlined plans expected to create 1,000 jobs through expansion projects including a new healthcare services campus at Rowan University, continued growth at Mullica Hill and a new outpatient cancer treatment center in Vineland.

• RWJBarnabas Health (Steve Barry, Executive VP of Facilities Management & Real Estate Development): Officials discussed potential expansion of the network alongside major projects at Fort Monmouth’s Vogel campus, a new Cooperman Cancer Center in Livingston and expansions at Jersey City Medical Center and Somerset Medical Center.

• Virtua Health (Julie Herb, VP of Facilities Development): Construction continues at the Our Lady of Lourdes Camden tower where six floors of steel are already complete. Additional projects include Mount Holly Hospital and infrastructure improvements at Marlton and Willingboro hospital facilities.

• University Hospital (McKenzie Wilson, Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary): Officials detailed a four-phase, $2.1 billion redevelopment project designed to address growing patient demand, beginning with construction of a new medical facility. Work is expected to continue for the better part of the next decade.

• Merck (Kathryn Gibbs, Director of Engineering, Global Workplace Enterprise Services): Gibbs outlined multi-year research and development investments planned at the Rahway headquarters campus and described continued capital construction opportunities expected through the remainder of the decade.

The event was again chaired by Bob Gerard, Senior Manager of Business Development for Holt Construction. Healthcare construction activity throughout New Jersey and the Northeast continues to position the region as one of the country’s most active markets for medical infrastructure investment.

To learn more about upcoming opportunities with the Alliance, visit the our events calendar.