New York Construction Report staff writer
A $1 billion investment is being made to modernize SUNY Downstate Hospital in Brooklyn, with a comprehensive plan that includes infrastructure improvements, expanded services, and operational upgrades based on community input.
The funding includes $750 million from the 2024–25 and 2025–26 New York State budgets, along with a commitment from SUNY to allocate $50 million in capital funding annually over the next seven years. The plan aims to address long-standing infrastructure issues and ensure the long-term sustainability of the facility, which has faced a $100 million annual deficit and deteriorating physical conditions.
The SUNY Downstate Community Advisory Board, formed to guide the project, released recommendations following six months of community engagement. The plan calls for retaining all current inpatient and outpatient services, including maternity and kidney transplant services, and converting double occupancy rooms into private rooms with showers. Once completed, the hospital will have 225 operational beds, up from the current average daily census of 165.
Key recommendations include:
- Modernizing and expanding the emergency department to 45 stations
- Creating and renovating inpatient specialty units for cardiology, oncology, and orthopedics
- Constructing a new hospital annex, including an ambulatory surgery center focused on oncology and cardiology
- Upgrading mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to prevent future infrastructure failures
- Improving leadership and operational practices for financial and service sustainability
The advisory board held four public hearings and met with a range of stakeholders, including SUNY Downstate faculty, advocacy organizations, and regional health providers. Their report incorporated data from the NYC Health & Hospitals’ Community Health Needs Assessment, state health equity reports, and SUNY Downstate’s financial and facility condition analyses.
Materials from the advisory board’s public process, including data and planning documents, are publicly available.
The investment aims to secure SUNY Downstate’s future as a teaching hospital and major healthcare provider in Central Brooklyn, ensuring continued access to care and stability for the surrounding community.
