Building the Future of Care at UNC Health Nash
At UNC Health Nash, we’re building more than a new tower—we’re creating a better experience for our patients, families, and care teams.
This new seven-story inpatient tower will include 150 private patient rooms, each with its own shower to support comfort, privacy, and healing. Designed with both patients and providers in mind, the tower will help deliver care more efficiently while creating a more personal, supportive environment at the bedside.
Located at the hospital’s main entrance, the tower will improve how patients, visitors, and care teams move throughout campus, making navigation and access easier for everyone. Construction is actively underway, with major structural work progressing on site. This investment ensures patients in our region can continue receiving advanced, high-quality care close to home.
What This Means for Patients and Visitors
From the moment you arrive, this space is designed to feel easier to navigate and more comfortable to experience. Every detail is intended to support both healing and connection—while also giving care teams the space and tools they need to provide the highest level of care.
- Private patient rooms designed for rest and recovery
- Space for loved ones to stay close and involved
- Enhanced care environments that support safety and efficiency
- Expanded, modernized staff areas that support more effective, coordinated care
- Easier access to the hospital with updated entrances and parking
Strengthening Care Through People and Preparation
As part of the tower’s design, we focused on the people who make care possible. Rather than adding new beds, the tower transitions patients into a more advanced care environment—supported by modern technology, updated equipment, and thoughtfully designed clinical spaces.
At the same time, we are investing in our staff through continued training, thoughtful recruitment, and strong onboarding to ensure every team member is equipped to meet the high standards our community expects. This work reflects our commitment to strengthening how care is delivered every day.
Tower Design and Features
The new tower brings meaningful updates to both the patient experience and the hospital campus as a whole:
- 160,400 square feet of new construction supporting modern care delivery
- A new main hospital entrance and lobby designed to simplify arrival and wayfinding
- Direct connection to the Mayo Surgery Pavilion, including a new dedicated waiting area
- Space designed to support future patient care expansion
- The existing inpatient tower will be repurposed to support new and evolving services
Construction began in 2025, with the tower expected to open in late 2027.
Key Insights and Considerations
This project reflects UNC Health Nash’s long-term commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our community. Identified as a priority through the Master Facilities Plan, the tower was shaped by careful evaluation of facility limitations and future care needs. Because of structural constraints within the existing tower, renovation was not feasible, making new construction the most effective path forward. The approximately $165 million investment is moving ahead in planned phases with oversight from the UNC Health Nash Board of Commissioners and is fully funded without reliance on donations, grants, or tax dollars. Once complete, the tower will become the tallest building in Rocky Mount, reflecting the scale and lasting impact of this investment.
What’s Changed Due to Construction: Access, Parking & Entrances
During construction of the new inpatient tower, the main hospital entrance is temporarily relocated. Patients and visitors should use the covered entrance on the lower level of the parking deck, which leads directly to the temporary main lobby. Parking is also available on this level for convenient access.
If you are visiting Nash Day Hospital, please continue using the dedicated entrance and parking area.
On-site signage and attendants are available to help guide you.
Expanding Care in Nashville and Middlesex
We’re expanding access to primary care across Nash County with two new medical office facilities—one in Middlesex and one in Nashville.
UNC Health Family Medicine at Middlesex is now open, bringing expanded primary care capacity to western Nash County and communities near the Wake-Nash county line. UNC Health Family Medicine at Nashville is expected to open this fall, strengthening access to primary care in central Nash County.
Together, these facilities are bringing more providers and UNC Health resources closer to the communities we serve, making it easier for patients and families to access trusted care near where they live and work.
UNC Health Family Medicine at Middlesex:
- Now open at 7620 Middlesex Corporate Parkway, Suite 100
- Eight family medicine and internal medicine practitioners
- Serves patients through all stages of life, beginning at birth
- Expanded capacity to welcome thousands of new patients
- Future imaging capabilities planned, including MRI
- Existing Middlesex location will continue offering specialty services while future uses for the site are evaluated
UNC Health Family Medicine at Nashville:
- Expected to open this fall at 540 Red Oak Road
- Eight family medicine and internal medicine practitioners
- Will serve patients through all stages of life, beginning at birth
- Larger facility designed to serve established patients while expanding capacity for thousands of new patients in Nashville and central Nash County
- Conveniently located near US-64
The two facilities are part of UNC Health Nash’s broader investment in strengthening primary care access and health care infrastructure across the region.
Our Commitment to Our Patients
We remain fully committed to providing exceptional patient care throughout the construction projects on our campus. We have carefully planned each phase to minimize disruptions and ensure that care standards are not impacted. Temporary adjustments to parking, entry points, and service locations will be managed with patient convenience in mind, and updates will be communicated clearly to keep our community informed.
As we build for the future, our focus remains on delivering the same high-quality service and compassionate care that our patients trust, ensuring that our facilities continue to maintain a safe and optimal environment for patients, families, and staff.
