As the Strong Memorial Hospital expansion project works to triple the size of its emergency department, it has received a financial boost.
Peter and Kathleen Landers have committed $1 million based on witnessing capacity constraints and backlog of health care patients firsthand.
“Our family members have experienced the remarkable compassionate care provided by the nurses, staff, and emergency care doctors,” Kathleen Landers says. “The new expansion will provide a state-of-the-art environment and resources for hospital teams to deliver that kind of exemplary care to more people, to help them recover, heal, and have better outcomes.”
The project will expand the hospital by more than 650,000 square feet and add 200 examination/treatment and patient observation stations as well as a new nine-story inpatient bed tower.
“There is a great need for providing better access and facilities for emergency care in our community,” says Peter Landers. “Making this gift now in support of the new emergency tower will help alleviate this ongoing crisis and better serve the health care needs of the community.”
The couple founded Landers Communities, a residential and commercial property developer in Monroe County, over 30 years ago. They both earned degrees from the University of Rochester, have previously supported the James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute, Golisano Children’s Hospital, the Eastman School of Music, the Memorial Art Gallery, and University of Rochester Athletics. In addition, they collectively serve as board members for the University of Rochester Medical Center, the Memorial Art Gallery and the Wilmot Cancer Institute.
Their donation to the Strong Memorial expansion project will be honored with UR’s plans to name the Landers Adult Waiting Room.
“We are pleased to be part of this expansion project and know it will transform the way emergency care is delivered,” Kathleen says.
The expansion represents the hospital’s most comprehensive modernization project in 50 years, UR officials say. Already a challenge, chronic bed shortages and overcrowding were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first announcement of the expansion plan was made in 2022 with a total project cost of $641 million. Last year, the project received $50 million in state funding from the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program, as well as a $1 million federal grant from the Fiscal Year 2023 Community Project Funding process.
Most of that money will go toward the expanded emergency department space, including a Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for mental health care, the tower, and individual cardiovascular patient rooms.
The demolition of surrounding structures, some original facilities along Elmwood Avenue, and the construction of a new patient parking garage is already under way.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Jacob Schermerhorn is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer and data journalist. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. Submissions to the Letters page should be sent to [email protected].