Ohio State Completes Major Hospital Move as Children’s Hospital Expands Housing Efforts
Columbus, OH – March 7, 2026 – Ohio State completes a historic hospital move while Nationwide Children’s expands housing tied to community health.
Ohio State completes largest patient move in its history
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center has completed the transfer of 425 patients into its new University Hospital tower on West 10th Avenue. The move, finalized in late February and detailed March 2, marks the largest patient transfer in the health system’s history.
The 26-story facility includes 820 private rooms, 24 operating rooms and 234 intensive care unit beds, along with expanded space for stroke care, cancer treatment and maternity services. Health system leaders said the transition was completed in less than eight hours following months of planning and coordination.
The new tower is described as the largest single-facility hospital project opening in the United States in 2026. Officials say the expanded capacity and private-room design are intended to support infection control, patient privacy and advanced specialty care for central Ohio and beyond.
Nationwide Children’s shifts to larger housing projects
Nationwide Children’s Hospital is expanding its Healthy Homes initiative, moving from scattered-site rehabs to larger, apartment-style developments in Columbus neighborhoods including Linden and the South Side.
Hospital leaders said new financing tools and recent land acquisitions are allowing for bigger, family-focused housing builds. The Healthy Homes program is designed to address housing conditions that can affect asthma, injury risk and overall child health.
The shift reflects a broader strategy to invest in place-based health efforts, pairing medical care with improvements in housing stability and neighborhood conditions.
Community crisis response proposal advances
A March 2 announcement from the Columbus Safety Collective Campaign outlines a proposed charter amendment directing city departments, including Columbus Public Health, to develop a community crisis response services system if approved by voters.
The proposal calls for creating an advisory board and building out non-police crisis response teams, with phased implementation targets extending through 2030. Supporters describe the plan as a way to strengthen behavioral health response options alongside existing public safety services.
City officials have not announced any immediate operational changes. Any system expansion would depend on voter approval and subsequent city planning.
Sources
https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/mediaroom/pressreleaselisting/nations-newest-high-tech-hospital-completes-historic-patient-move
https://hoodline.com/2026/03/nationwide-children-s-cranks-up-columbus-housing-game-with-bigger-family-builds/
https://cbussafety.org/2026/03/02/260302_pressrelease/
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