WVU Medicine Breaks Ground on $200 Million Patient Tower at Berkeley Medical Center

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – WVU Medicine celebrated a major milestone yesterday (Sept. 16) with the groundbreaking of a new patient tower at Berkeley Medical Center, the centerpiece of a historic $260 million investment to expand healthcare access in the Eastern Panhandle. 

 

The $200.9 million project will increase inpatient bed capacity from 190 to 325 private, state-of-the-art patient rooms. Additional amenities at the expanded hospital will include enhanced dining options, family-friendly spaces, and up to 450 new parking spaces. 

 

“This is more than a construction project, it’s a promise to our community,” Mark O’Hern, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals East, said. “We are expanding our ability to deliver compassionate, innovative care to every neighbor, at every stage of life. Berkeley County is projected to grow by 40 percent by 2040, and this tower is designed to grow with it, ensuring our patients and families have the highest-quality care close to home.” 

 

Construction will occur in phases with work on the parking addition beginning this fall to ensure adequate access for patients, staff, and visitors during the larger build. The patient tower is anticipated to open in early 2028. 

 

“This groundbreaking is more than a ceremonial gesture; it’s a powerful declaration of our values and our commitment to the people of the Eastern Panhandle,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the WVU Health System, said. “We are not just building a hospital tower; we are building access, building trust, and building futures. Every West Virginian deserves world-class care without leaving their community, and this investment ensures that reality here in Berkeley County.” 

 

Guests explored interactive engagement stations, including a virtual tour of the new tower and a “Messages for Tomorrow” wall, where community members shared notes of encouragement to be sealed within the facility. 

 

As part of the investment, WVU Medicine will also be adding a replacement linear accelerator for targeted cancer treatment to the campus and will embark on a $60 million campus expansion at Jefferson Medical Center. That project will create a three-story ambulatory building with medical office space, advanced imaging, lab, and ancillary services, along with a new infusion and cancer care suite that will be part of the WVU Cancer Institute. Renovations are expected to begin this summer with phased construction through 2028. 

 

Together, the Berkeley and Jefferson projects will add 550 jobs, attract new medical talent, and ensure healthcare services keep pace with one of the fastest-growing regions in West Virginia.  

For more information about these projects, visit WVUMedicine.org/Berkeley/About-Us/Growth/. 

 

 

 

Chelsie Davis, Director of Marketing and Communications, 304-596-6327, 

[email protected] 

 

25 – September 

CED:  9-17-25