Tuesday, June 16, 2026
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New Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre expands emergency, lab, imaging services for Summerville
Tuesday, June 16, 2026: Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s new Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre near downtown Summerville is expanding convenient access to emergency, imaging, lab and outpatient services for residents of one of the Lowcountry's fastest-growing communities.
Scheduled to open June 29 at 101 Sawmill Centre Drive, the 45,000-square-foot location will serve families throughout Dorchester and Berkeley counties, including Summerville, Nexton and Cane Bay. The project reflects Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s continued investment in meeting the healthcare needs of residential areas across the Charleston region and advancing our mission of healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.
"As our region continues to grow, it is critical that healthcare grows alongside it," Roper St. Francis Healthcare President & CEO Joseph DeLeon said. “The Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre expands access to high-quality care closer to where people live, work and raise their families. Whether patients need emergency care, diagnostic imaging or laboratory services, they can now access those services in a convenient location close to home.”
The first phase of services set to open June 29 includes:
- 24/7 free-standing Gregory M. Parker Emergency Department, including eight observation bays
- Imaging, including CT, MRI, mammography and X-ray
- Laboratory services
Future phases of the Sawmill Centre site are already planned:
- A separate 20,000-square-foot Medical Office Building is expected to open later this year and will include orthopedic, obstetrics and gynecology, and neuroscience services.
- An ambulatory surgery center on the second floor of the Health Pavilion also is planned for 2027.
The first phase brought more than 60 healthcare jobs to the area. About 150 people — including many of those Roper St. Francis Healthcare teammates, physicians, medical providers, community officials and other local leaders — attended a June 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the advancement.
"The Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre represents much more than a new building. It reflects the commitment of the teammates, physicians and providers who will care for this community every day,” said Troy Powell, Chief Operating Officer for the Ambulatory Channel at Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “We are excited to celebrate this milestone together and look forward to the impact these teams will make for patients and families throughout the region."
The new location in Dorchester County comes on the heels of an expansion project that doubled the capacity of Berkeley Hospital – all part of Roper St. Francis Healthcare's broader commitment to optimizing the not-for-profit system’s footprint throughout the Lowcountry and addressing future clinical needs as part of the 2030 Strategic Plan.
The Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre targets an increasing need in the Summerville corridor, where ongoing residential development and population growth have fueled the need for additional access points. By bringing emergency, imaging and lab services together in one location, the pavilion offers a convenient destination for patients seeking timely care and diagnostics.
Trident Construction completed the Health Pavilion in less than two years.
The building’s interior will reflect the community. Taken by Dorchester School District 2 students, photographs of vibrant landscapes, natural life and cityscapes throughout the Summerville area will adorn the walls.
“The Town of Summerville is excited to celebrate the opening of Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre,” Summerville Mayor Russ Touchberry said. “This represents more than another successful investment in our town, but a significant improvement to the health, well-being and quality of life for our citizens. I am grateful for the confidence Roper St. Francis Healthcare has in the Town of Summerville and look forward to strengthening our partnership in the future.”
Occupying the first floor of the main building, the Gregory M. Parker Emergency Department was made possible in part through a $5 million donation from Parker’s Kitchen founder and Executive Chairman Greg Parker and the Parker’s Community Fund.
"We're deeply honored to support emergency care at Roper St. Francis Healthcare and to celebrate the impressive new Health Pavilion at Sawmill Centre in Summerville," Parker said. "Giving back to the community truly is part of our DNA at Parker's Kitchen. We're committed to expanding access to healthcare for uninsured and underinsured residents across the Charleston area and to making a transformative impact on the communities we serve."
Health Pavilion construction quick facts
- 276,542 crew hours worked
- 498 tons of steel
- 2,165 tons of concrete
About Roper St. Francis Healthcare
As a not-for-profit healthcare system, Roper St. Francis Healthcare chooses purpose over profits by putting extra money back into the system to help meet the health needs of the Charleston community. The healthcare system features four flagship hospitals: Roper Hospital, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital and Berkeley Hospital. In an emergency, the healthcare system offers six strategically placed emergency departments with more on the way. With nearly 7,000 teammates, Roper St. Francis Healthcare is the Lowcountry’s largest private employer with more than 1,000 doctors representing almost every medical specialty. The system has nearly 700 beds and about 120 facilities and services across four counties. Learn more: rsfh.com.
