Up and away: Construction teams start structural steel at future Roper Hospital campus

Construction teams recently began structural steel work at Roper St. Francis Healthcare's future Roper Hospital campus in North Charleston, marking a pivotal milestone in the construction of the facility that's expected to transform medical care in the region for generations to come. 

The start of steel work by the Barton Malow | Edifice joint venture signals the project’s transition from below-grade construction to its vertical rise, bringing the building’s form to life on the 27-acre site. The project is a key component of Roper St. Francis Healthcare 2030 Strategic Plan initiatives of optimizing the system's footprint and addressing future clinical needs. 

Moving Roper Hospital from downtown Charleston to North Charleston, the new campus will deliver 805,000 square feet of advanced healthcare space for the Lowcountry community. Designed by E4H Environments for Health Architecture (a MOREgroup Brand) and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building will include 328 inpatient beds, a 47-bay emergency department, 44 critical care beds, 18 operating rooms, a comprehensive imaging department and a 12-bay hemodialysis unit. Completion is targeted for 2029. 

“Steel work is one of the most visible signs of progress for the future Roper Hospital campus, but it also represents years of planning and coordination between our construction partners and the multidisciplinary teams at Roper St. Francis Healthcare,” said Charles Fletcher, Vice President of Construction, Real Estate & Support Services for Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “Every piece of steel placed on this campus helps build a stronger, more resilient hospital for the Lowcountry — one designed to support our care teams, serve patients more efficiently and meet the region’s growing clinical needs for generations to come.” 

Barton Malow | Edifice is leading construction of the campus using a target-value delivery method, which allows the team to adapt design components while maintaining budget and schedule integrity. The approach has been instrumental in navigating site-specific challenges, including complex seismic conditions, Federal Aviation Administration height restrictions and a high water table. 

"Beginning structural steel is a moment every project team works toward. It’s when the community will start to see the building take shape as a place they will receive care,” said Dan Buchta, Barton Malow | Edifice Vice President of Project Delivery. “We’re proud to hit this milestone on schedule and look forward to continuing to build on the momentum.” 

The campus masterplan is organized around a central pedestrian greenbelt that links the site’s three parcels with shaded walkways, gardens and plazas. The architecture and interiors draw from the native flora and historic street spaces of the Lowcountry, creating a patient-centered environment designed for healing. 

The future Roper Hospital in North Charleston will be the fourth location for the facility since it opened in downtown Charleston in 1856, continuing a nearly 200-year tradition of serving the region.