Photo: When complete, the Health Center at Middletown will offer a variety of services, including primary and specialty care, women’s health, behavioral health, oncology, cardiovascular care, pediatrics, neurology, imaging, diagnostics and laboratory testing. | Photo Credit: Courtesy of ChristianaCare
By Lindsey Coulter
MIDDLETOWN, Del. — ChristianaCare broke ground Sept. 30 on the new Health Center at Middletown, marking a major milestone in bringing expanded, affordable care to families in southern New Castle County and northern Kent County. The $92.3 million, 87,000-square-foot facility is expected to open in spring 2027.
The project reflects a deep investment in the health and vitality of the region and is part of ChristianaCare’s broader plan, announced in July, to invest more than $865 million in Delaware over the next three years. The new Health Center will be constructed adjacent to ChristianaCare’s existing freestanding emergency department and will create more than 70 full-time jobs.
“Today we take an exciting step forward for Delaware, as part of ChristianaCare’s $865 million investment to expand access and strengthen health across our state,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, president and CEO of ChristianaCare, at the groundbreaking ceremony. “This new health center is a promise to Delawareans: that they will have access to exceptional care close to home, delivered with love and excellence. More than a building, it represents our vision for healthier communities, our deep commitment to those we serve, and a future where every neighbor can thrive.”
Construction of the health center is slated to begin later this year. When complete, the center will offer a variety of services, including primary and specialty care, women’s health, behavioral health, oncology, cardiovascular care, pediatrics, neurology, imaging, diagnostics and laboratory testing.
The facility will also feature hybrid exam rooms with interactive digital tools, calming waiting areas with sensory-sensitive design, friendly floor ambassadors to guide patients, and healing environments that incorporate natural light and walking trails.
“We are designing care around people, not around appointments or buildings,” said Pauline Corso, president of Ambulatory Network Continuity and Growth at ChristianaCare in a statement. “From easy parking to advanced care coordination, every detail of this new center is aimed at making health care more welcoming, more connected and more human.”
The building’s design will reflect the natural landscape of the property and include a common check-in area and registration team coordinating among practices throughout the facility.
ChristianaCare has been part of the Middletown community since 2009, when it purchased 108 acres that now house the freestanding emergency department, which opened in 2012. That facility provided care for more than 32,000 patient visits last year — more than twice its original projections.
“This groundbreaking is a proud moment for our town,” said Ken Branner, mayor of Middletown, at the event. “ChristianaCare has been a trusted partner for many years, and this new facility shows a lasting commitment to our residents. It will bring top-quality care closer to home and create good jobs right here in our community.”
The Delaware Health Resources Board approved a Certificate of Public Review for the health center expansion on Sept. 26. While ChristianaCare has no immediate plans to add a hospital at the site, the campus allows for future expansion.