The Daily Dig
The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) broke ground on October 30, 2026, on a $110 million outpatient care center in Towson, Maryland.
The University of Maryland Center for Outpatient Care will rise four stories on the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center campus. It’s being built on a former surface parking lot and will cover approximately 112,000 square feet.
Plans call for 340 parking spaces, and patients are scheduled to start coming through the doors in spring 2028.
Tilt Shift
The building is going up using tilt-up concrete. Crews pour large wall panels flat on site, then lift them into place by crane.
This is the second time UMMS has used the method, following their Logistics Operations Center in Sparrows Point. It will be the system’s first medical office building built entirely with tilt-up.
UMMS says the approach speeds up the schedule, reduces costs and gives them more flexibility in planning interior space. That last point matters in healthcare, where clinical needs change over time.
The building will also be fully electric, which UMMS says will result in zero carbon emissions. It will feature an advanced acoustic design as well.
Under One Roof
Inside, the plan calls for two separate outpatient surgery centers, with the capability to expand as volumes and community needs grow.
Other planned services include musculoskeletal care, sports medicine rehabilitation, primary care, pulmonary care, infusion services and pediatric specialty care. The building will also house the Diabetes and Endocrine Center.
“We’re building on generations of trust to meet the next generation of health care needs,” said Thomas B. Smyth, MD, UMMS’ Executive Vice President, Community Health Division.
Snapshot:
Project: University of Maryland Center for Outpatient Care
Health System: University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS)
Location: University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center campus, Towson, Maryland
Site: Former surface parking lot
Sector: Healthcare, ambulatory and outpatient
Size: Approximately 112,000 sq. ft., four stories, freestanding
Value: $110 million
Parking: 340 spaces
Construction Method: Tilt-up concrete, UMMS’ first fully tilt-up medical office building
Prior UMMS Tilt-Up Project: Logistics Operations Center, Sparrows Point
Building Systems: Fully electric, zero carbon emissions (per UMMS), advanced acoustic design
Surgical Capacity: Two separate outpatient surgery centers, with capability to expand
Services: Ambulatory surgery (orthopedic, pain, multispecialty), musculoskeletal care, sports medicine rehabilitation, primary care, Diabetes and Endocrine Center, pulmonary care, general and specialty surgery, infusion, pediatric specialty care
Planned Volume: Approximately 250,000 people/visits annually (as stated by UMMS)
Groundbreaking: October 30, 2026
Opening: Spring 2028
Clinical Partners: UM School of Medicine and Faculty Physicians Inc. (FPI), Ruxton Surgical Center, Towson Orthopaedic Associates, Towson Sports Medicine, Towson Surgical Center, UM St. Joseph Medical Group practices
Philanthropic Partners: The Edward St. John Foundation, The Slitzer LaPausky Foundation, The Herman and Walter Samuelson Foundation
TheJobWalk Thoughts
Tilt-up pulls key decisions forward. Window openings, embeds and penetrations get cast right into the panels. Anything electrical or mechanical that has to land in a wall panel needs to be coordinated before that panel is poured.
A fully electric building with two surgery centers also points to a heavy electrical scope. With doors set to open in spring 2028, long lead times on electrical gear like switchgear could leave less room than the calendar suggests.
UMMS has now chosen tilt-up twice. Concrete subs with warehouse panel experience should treat that as a healthcare door worth knocking on.
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