Corewell Health has announced conceptual plans to expand the Butterworth Hospital campus in Grand Rapids with the addition of a new 621,000 square-foot facility that would increase access to care, including the construction of a new emergency department, 180 private beds, and 12 to 16 operating rooms.
The location being considered for the project includes 230 Michigan St. and 330 Barclay Ave. where existing Corewell Health facilities are located. Services in these aging buildings would be relocated ahead of their proposed demolition.
Corewell Health’s plan to explore expansion was driven by the rapid growth of the Grand Rapids market and an opportunity to provide additional care for patients in the area, according to officials.
Over the last year, Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital’s average patient census has consistently been more than 90 percent. Population increase and shifting epidemiological trends over the coming years will continue to drive the need for expanded community access to health care services.
“As our community grows and ages, the need for medical care is steadily increasing and we want to make sure we are providing the best care for our neighbors throughout the region,” says Dr. Josh Kooistra, president of Corewell Health in West Michigan. “We are investing in Grand Rapids’ future.”
Emphasis will be placed on modernization by creating large and more comfortable private rooms that can accommodate new technologies and equipment to help deliver and enhance patient experience and staff satisfaction.
Older semi-private rooms will be eliminated. A multi-place hyperbaric chamber and additional overflow beds are some of the other features planned for the new facility.
“The project is still in the early planning process, and many details have yet to be determined, but we know that the need exists, and the growth trends of the Grand Rapids region demand these types of health care infrastructure upgrades,” says Kooistra. “Throughout this process, we will work with our community, neighbors, and the city every step of the way before seeking final approval from the board of directors.”
This project is targeted for completion at the end of 2030. No cost for the project was provided.
Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with more than 60,000 people, including 11,500-plus physicians and advanced practice providers and over 16,000 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300-plus outpatient locations, and several post-acute facilities.
It also operates Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org/.
