Today, Centra celebrated the groundbreaking for its new state-of-the-art tower at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital (LGH).
This marks the next major step in its Modernization Plan, which comprises the most significant capital investments in facilities, technologies and process improvements in Centra’s nearly 40-year history. The Modernization Plan aligns with Centra’s long-term strategic plan and addresses key priorities identified in the 2021 and 2024 Community Health Needs Assessments.
At 266,200 square feet, the new six-story tower will expand access to high quality, safe care for the growing region that Centra serves. The new tower will feature:
- A new emergency department, replacing the existing space with over 70 treatment spaces, a split-flow care model to improve patient experience, an integrated EmPATH psychiatric care space, imaging/results lounge and built-in flexibility for future expansion.
- A new perioperative services floor housing a surgical inpatient unit with advanced support spaces, including an operating suite of 12 modern operating rooms and post-surgery patient recovery rooms.
- A new labor and delivery unit, mother/baby unit and intensive care nursery designed to meet the needs of today’s families.
“The new hospital tower is not simply a building—it is a clear expression of our responsibility to our patients, their families, and our providers,” said Richard Tugman, President and CEO of Centra. “Every detail has been designed to ensure that people across central and southern Virginia have access to the safest, highest quality care close to home. This transformative project will address the needs we face today whilst preparing us for those to come. This investment will serve the region for the long term.”
In addition to expanding care, the project will generate positive economic impact and increase the environmental sustainability of LGH. During the three year construction period, an estimated $140 million will be invested locally, sustaining more than 2,500 trade-related jobs. As the largest healthcare project in Virginia designed based on geothermal technology, the new tower will add 40% more space with only a 10% increase in energy consumption, reducing the hospital’s total energy use by approximately 40%. Features such as LED lighting, a green roof and advanced commissioning systems will further enhance efficiency to ensure responsible environmental stewardship.
Construction is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2028.
