The project expands the Anderson Campus’ capacity for cardiovascular care while consolidating a broad range of specialized services within a purpose-built facility. The hospital will include four dedicated heart operating rooms, one hybrid operating room and 10 advanced interventional suites supporting cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology and interventional radiology. | Photo Credit: St. Lukes Univeristy Health Network Inc.
By Lindsey Coulter
- $252 million investment: The new St. Luke’s Heart Hospital represents the largest construction project in St. Luke’s University Health Network’s history.
- 355,000 square feet of space: The five-story facility will significantly expand the St. Luke’s Anderson Campus in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, adding 140 beds.
- Purpose-built for cardiovascular care: The hospital will include four heart operating rooms, a hybrid operating room, 10 interventional suites, a dedicated cardiac intensive care unit and advanced imaging and life-support capabilities.
- Designed around clinical operations: The facility incorporates dedicated staff circulation routes, expanded support spaces and a rooftop helipad to facilitate efficient patient care and emergency access.
- Opening in October 2026: The Heart Hospital is scheduled to open this fall, expanding St. Luke’s cardiovascular services while adding educational and research opportunities, including a cardiac fellowship program.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — St. Luke’s University Health Network is preparing to open a new heart hospital at its Anderson Campus in October, adding 140 beds and nearly doubling the size of the campus.
The $252 million St. Luke’s Heart Hospital represents the largest construction project in the health system’s more than 150-year history, both by investment and square footage. The five-story facility encompasses approximately 355,000 square feet and was constructed entirely with American steel. Construction began in 2024 and employed hundreds of skilled workers.
The project expands the Anderson Campus’ capacity for cardiovascular care while consolidating a broad range of specialized services within a purpose-built facility. The hospital will include four dedicated heart operating rooms, one hybrid operating room and 10 advanced interventional suites supporting cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology and interventional radiology.
A dedicated cardiac intensive care unit will provide specialized care for high-acuity cardiac patients. The facility also will feature advanced imaging equipment, heart-lung machines used during open-heart surgery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, equipment for patients requiring extended cardiopulmonary support.
Designed Around Clinical Workflow
The Heart Hospital was designed with operational efficiency and patient care in mind. A central corridor on each of the upper floors extends approximately 330 feet, while internal service corridors give staff access to supplies and support areas without relying on primary patient circulation routes.
The facility also includes a rooftop helipad and a larger cafeteria, improvements intended to support both the new hospital and the broader Anderson Campus.
The hospital’s design also supports St. Luke’s educational and research mission. Expanded teaching space and a new cardiac fellowship program are intended to strengthen clinical education while providing additional opportunities for learning and innovation.
The project is part of St. Luke’s broader expansion of cardiovascular services. The health system has built five full-service acute care hospitals in recent years, which it says is more than any other health system in Pennsylvania.
Expanding the Anderson Campus
Located on a 500-acre site overlooking the Lehigh River, St. Luke’s Anderson Campus opened 15 years ago as Pennsylvania’s first new full-service acute care hospital in four decades. The campus has subsequently expanded through several major projects.
A $26 million Specialty Pavilion opened in 2017, adding specialty services and an ambulatory surgery center. In 2020, a $90 million Women & Babies Pavilion added labor and delivery services, a neonatal intensive care unit, graduate medical education space and a simulation teaching center.
The new Heart Hospital will again substantially increase the campus footprint and capabilities. Once fully operational, the facility also is expected to support hundreds of permanent health care jobs.
For St. Luke’s, the project represents a significant investment in both cardiovascular care and the physical infrastructure needed to support a growing regional health system. The Heart Hospital is scheduled to open in October 2026.