Design work will be led by CannonDesign, which was approved by the New York State Office of the State Comptroller. | Photo Credit: SUNY Upstate Medical University
By Lindsey Coulter
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The State University of New York Upstate Medical University is moving into the design phase of a $450 million hospital annex that will include an expanded emergency department and a new burn unit intended to serve patients across Central New York.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the milestone this week after the project secured funding in the FY26 enacted budget. “All New Yorkers should have access to the highest quality of health and medical care available –– that’s why we’re investing in a state-of-the-art facility for SUNY Upstate Medical and for all of Central New York,” Hochul said.
The hospital annex was proposed by the SUNY Board of Trustees and received broad support from lawmakers in the Central New York and Mohawk Valley delegations, along with statewide labor organizations. The project is aimed at modernizing and expanding Upstate’s capacity as the region prepares for population and industry growth.
Design work will be led by CannonDesign, which was approved by the New York State Office of the State Comptroller. The firm will subcontract with multiple partners, including Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business firms. The contract is structured to meet or exceed goals of 15% MBE, 15% WBE and 6% SDVOB participation.
Much of the design effort will focus on creating a larger, more efficient emergency department and a modern burn unit with advanced treatment capabilities. As the scope is refined, CannonDesign will work with SUNY Upstate clinical teams to incorporate patient-flow planning, specialized trauma spaces and technology-ready infrastructure.
Upstate University Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Corona said the design launch marks “an exciting and essential step toward strengthening emergency care for our entire region.” He noted that anticipated regional growth underscores the need for expanded facilities. “This project ensures Upstate is ready to meet our community’s future health-care needs in a world class facility,” he said. Corona added that staff “deserve a state-of-the-art facility to match, as do the patients we serve,” and emphasized that the hospital looks forward to working with CannonDesign.
Planning and design will continue into next year, with SUNY and SUNY Upstate coordinating procurement, consultant outreach and early construction phasing. SUNY said it remains committed to involving local contractors and MWBE firms throughout the project. Over the summer, the university held a briefing for MWBE firms as part of the design bid process, and additional outreach will continue as design packages and construction scopes are developed.
State Sen. Rachel May called the design phase “an exciting first step toward a state-of-the-art emergency department that will better serve patients across Central New York and beyond.” She added that securing $450 million for the project ensures “life-saving care in a modern, safe facility for years to come.”
Project updates will be made public as design progress continues.