Construction is steadily advancing on Lee Health’s $824 million hospital campus in central Lee County, with the project on track for a topping out in early 2026.

The new Lee Health Fort Myers facility, located on a 53-acre site at Colonial and Jones-Walker boulevards, broke ground in January and continues to meet its original timeline.

Interior framing is underway, and design work for the West bed tower is progressing. Foundation work for that component is expected to begin by summer 2026. Once complete, the hospital will span 535,000 square feet and ultimately accommodate 260 beds. At opening, 236 private patient rooms will be available. Construction is slated to wrap up in summer 2028, with the hospital expected to open later that fall.

Dr. Larry Antonucci, Lee Health’s president and CEO, said the project reflects the region’s rapid population growth and the rising need for expanded medical services. The new Fort Myers campus will replace the aging Lee Memorial Hospital on Cleveland Avenue, which is expected to close as the new facility comes online.

Campus Features and Services

The development includes far more than the main hospital. Plans call for:

• A 125,000-square-foot medical office building offering specialized care
• An 18-operating-room ambulatory surgery center
• A 44-bed emergency department equipped with advanced technology
• A rehabilitation gym and specialty clinics in orthopedics, spine, and rheumatology as part of the Lee Health Musculoskeletal Institute
• An on-site child development center for employees, with capacity for 114 children

Patient rooms will incorporate smart, “connected care” technology to streamline scheduling, support clinical workflows, and personalize the care experience. The campus is also being engineered for hurricane resilience, with elevated structures, redundant electrical systems, and a full-facility generator.

This major expansion comes as Lee Health moves forward as a private nonprofit system, transitioning last year from public ownership to better compete with large for-profit providers and private equity-backed entrants. Lee Health currently operates four acute-care hospitals, a regional children’s hospital, and numerous outpatient centers, serving more than 2 million patient interactions each year. With 17,000 employees, it remains the largest employer in Lee County.

Source:  News-Press