UNC Health Nash Moves Forward with New Hospital Tower Project

Late last year, UNC Health Nash finalized plans for a new, seven-story, state-of-the-art inpatient tower, aimed at modernizing care delivery and enhancing operational efficiency. Last week, the UNC Nash Board of Commissioners voted to move into the next phase of the project to continue site preparations and construction. The full tower project is expected to receive Local Government Commission (LGC) approval later this year.

Current Impacts to the Public

As UNC Nash moves into the next phase of the construction project and site preparations, there will be several changes the public will need to be aware of when visiting the UNC Nash campus.

Effective February 17, the Mayo Surgery Pavilion lobby will close, and the surgery check-in and waiting area will move to the lobby of the Nash Heart Center. Clear signage will guide patients and visitors to the new check-in areas for both heart care and general surgery. When visiting Mayo Surgery, please use the parking lot directly across from the Nash Heart Center entrance for the easiest access starting February 17. The Heart Center lobby will be accessible 24/7 for surgery patients and their families.

For drop-offs or pick-ups at the Heart Center or for general surgery, please pull-up to the main doors of the Heart Center. The main entrance of Nash General Hospital will continue to serve as the drop-off point for all other hospital patients at this time. All patients and visitors are asked to adhere to designated pathways and be mindful of construction signage to ensure safety.

Additionally, starting mid-February, new construction barriers will be installed inside the upper levels of the Nash General Hospital South Tower, clearly marked to ensure safety. For full details on these changes, as well as updated parking maps for the affected areas, visit www.unchealthnash.org/expansion for resources. Patients with scheduled appointments in the affected areas will be notified of the instructions on where to park and enter.

Future Impacts to the Public

As the construction project continues to unfold, changes to parking, traffic flow and entrances will occur across the campus. When the main phase of construction for the new tower kicks off, which is currently anticipated for mid-to-late March, the main entrance of the current Nash General Hospital tower will close to all patients, visitors, staff, and providers. During this phase, in order to enter the current hospital tower, patients, visitors, staff, and providers will be routed to a temporary side entrance between the Nash Women’s Center and the Nash General Hospital tower. Extensive communications, updated signage, and wayfinding resources will be available to help people navigate the change. The www.unchealthnash.org/expansion website will have information, resources, photos, and videos that will help explain and showcase the updates, and those resources will be posted closer to the time of the changes.

During this phase, the upper level section of the parking deck will be reserved for construction equipment and construction vehicles only. New traffic patterns will direct patient and visitor vehicles to parking and drop-off areas in the lower level of the parking deck. A traffic guard will be stationed on-site to assist patients and visitors, and ensure a smooth traffic flow. The lower level of the parking deck will become the main designated parking area for Nash General Hospital patients and visitors. This portion of the parking deck will feature a covered walkway that will provide direct access to the temporary main entrance to the hospital, which will serve as the primary hospital entrance throughout the remaining duration of the construction project. Handicap parking spaces will be available in this area, and the new entrance will be handicap friendly. All of these changes are expected to begin in March and will remain in place until full construction is completed in Fall of 2027.

Additional preparations, such as developing a new parking lot across from the Nash Emergency Department, have already begun to ensure a smooth transition into future phases of the construction project. This lot, set to open in March, will be utilized by Emergency Department patients and visitors, and UNC Health Nash staff.

New Tower Information

The new hospital tower will feature 150 spacious patient rooms with improved privacy, enhanced family and visitor amenities, and modernized room layouts to support superior, state of the art, patient-centered care. New patient parking, drop-off zones, and entry points are also part of the project, improving access to hospital services and streamlining traffic to clinical areas and the surgical pavilion. The new structure will connect to the south wing of the existing hospital tower, with sections of the current tower being repurposed for support functions and to meet future healthcare needs.

For additional information about the new tower, visit www.UNCHealthNash.org/Expansion for those resources.

Why a New Tower is Being Built

“This new tower marks a significant advancement in UNC Health Nash’s commitment to ensuring we provide the highest quality of care to our community,” said Dr. L. Lee Isley, President and CEO of UNC Health Nash.”

According to Isley, the project reflects careful planning by UNC Health Nash’s board of commissioners and collaboration with the community, shaped by a five-year strategic plan with input from patient surveys and forums, needs assessments, and industry best practices. The project has been in planning since the completion of a Master Facilities Plan five years ago which deemed the current hospital tower a high priority for modernization to meet present-day care delivery models and patient expectations. Renovation was not an option due to the layout of the current tower, said Isley.

One hundred and fifty of the hospital’s licensed beds will be moved to the new tower, meaning the new tower does not add new licensed beds to the hospital’s capacity.

Each phase of construction has advanced with unanimous approval from the UNC Health Nash board of commissioners, with full LGC project approval slated for later in 2025.

“This investment reflects the collaborative vision of our Board of Commissioners, medical staff, staff and community, all working together to improve health outcomes in our region,” said Isley. “Their leadership and dedication allow us to make strategic investments that strengthen our services and ensure we continue to provide the highest level of care. Together, we are building a foundation that will support the wellness of our community for years to come.”

More Information

For continuous updates on the construction project, visit the UNC Health Nash website at www.UNCHealthNash.org/Expansion or the updates posted to all official UNC Health Nash social media accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram).