Florida Construction News staff writer
Construction has started on the new Stantec-designed seven-story, 163,000-square-foot Helen and Jacob Shaham Academic Medical Center, a collaboration between Florida International University (FIU), South Florida’s public research university, and Baptist Health South Florida, the area’s largest not-for-profit healthcare system.
“This groundbreaking represents a bold step forward for FIU and for the future of health care in our community,” said FIU President Jeanette M. Nuñez. “By building a full academic medical center on our campus, we’re creating a place where learning, discovery and patient care happen side by side.
“It opens new opportunities for our students, fuels innovation and delivers meaningful, lasting benefits for families across South Florida.”
Located on FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique campus near Southwest 107th Avenue and Southwest 10th Street, the $162 million project design reflects the brand identity and shared values of FIU and Baptist Health, further strengthening their collaborative partnership. Stantec is providing architecture, medical planning, sustainability consulting, and other specialty services.
The site will bring education and patient care together with medical students, residents and clinical faculty in the same environment where patients receive care every day. The center also will support interprofessional training for students across FIU’s nursing, physician assistant, occupational therapy and other allied health professions.
It will include dedicated learning spaces for medical students and residents, along with a range of outpatient services. These will include multi-specialty care, diagnostic imaging, same-day surgery and infusion services. It also will feature an outpatient retail pharmacy, supporting coordinated, convenient care for patients in one location.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2028.
