The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) broke ground last week on a new $110 million Center for Outpatient Care at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center campus in Towson. The four‑story, 112,000‑square‑foot building will consolidate a range of surgical, specialty, rehabilitation and primary‑care services under one roof, expanding access for Maryland families and moving more care out of the hospital setting.
Project details and partners
Located on a former parking lot at 7601 Osler Drive, the center is a joint effort between UMMS, the University of Maryland School of Medicine and its Faculty Physicians Inc., as well as local providers including Ruxton Surgical Center, Towson Orthopaedic Associates, Towson Sports Medicine, Towson Surgical Center and the UM St. Joseph Medical Group practices. The design team, Wilmot Sanz and Powers Brown Architecture, chose a “tilt‑up” construction method—large concrete wall panels poured on‑site and lifted into place—marking the first time UM SJMC has used this technique for a medical office building.
Clark Construction serves as the general contractor. The building will feature advanced acoustic design, an all‑electric infrastructure that produces zero carbon emissions, and 340 parking spaces. When completed in the spring of 2028, the center is expected to accommodate about 250,000 patient visits annually.
Services to be offered
The new facility will relocate two ambulatory surgery centers focused on orthopaedic and pain procedures, as well as a multi‑specialty surgery center, into larger, modernized spaces. Additional services include musculoskeletal care, sports‑medicine rehabilitation, primary care, a Diabetes and Endocrine Center, pulmonary care, general and specialty surgery, infusion services, and pediatric specialty care staffed by faculty physicians.
Community impact
“This project is a strategic investment in ambulatory care, highlighting our commitment to innovation, health impact and serving our communities with academic medicine,” said Mohan Suntha, President and CEO of UMMS. He added that the center will give families “more of the care they need, closer to home, with the expertise of an entire academic health system behind them.”
William Regine, President of Faculty Physicians Inc., emphasized that the center connects trusted community‑based care with specialized expertise, allowing patients to receive subspecialty services without traveling far. Medical Director Leen Wehbeh noted that the modern environment will support coordinated, patient‑focused care.
UM SJMC President Robin Luxon illustrated the real‑world benefit, citing a grandfather with chronic knee pain and parents seeking pediatric specialists as examples of Marylanders who will gain easier access to high‑quality care.
Philanthropic support
The project was made possible in part by three principal philanthropic partners: The Edward St. John Foundation, The Slitzer LaPausky Foundation and The Herman and Walter Samuelson Foundation.
Overall, the Center for Outpatient Care represents a long‑term investment in the health and well‑being of Towson and the surrounding region, aligning with UMMS’s mission to expand community‑based, academically driven health services.
Original reporting: Baltimore Fishbowl — read the source article.