Henry Ford Health, Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and Michigan State University are planning to invest $2.5 billion building a hospital expansion, research facility and neighborhood redevelopment over the next decade in Detroit’s New Center district.

The health care nonprofit plans to begin construction next year on its expansion directly across the street from its existing hospital. The 1-million-sq-ft expansion is planned to include a tower with patient rooms. The facility is also planned to house an expanded emergency department plus various labs and spaces for medical procedures. A spokesperson for Henry Ford Health did not immediately respond to inquiries about when they would seek contractors for the project team.

That expansion is planned to “anchor” a larger neighborhood redevelopment, according to Henry Ford Health. The hospital and Michigan State University Health Sciences are also partnering on a medical research facility in the neighborhood just south of the future hospital expansion site. The MSU Board of Trustees signed off on the plan Feb. 10. They also plan to start construction on the research facility next year.

The development partners also plan to build housing, retail space, a parking garage and park in New Center. A series of tunnels and bridges could connect the hospital’s facilities. 

Henry Ford Health and the Pistons say in their announcement that they will solicit feedback from community stakeholders about their plans, and will incorporate that guidance to meet local needs. 

Gores and the Pistons previously partnered with Henry Ford Health on the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center and Center for Athletic Medicine, which is also in New Center. The $137-million project led by Detroit-based construction managers The Christman Co. and L.S. Brinker Co. completed in 2019.

In a statement, Gores said he hopes the projects will “contribute to the revitalization of the city.”