Ohio State to unveil plans for larger medical center

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio State University is ready to show off designs for a $1 billion expansion of the school’s medical center, including a new 17-story hospital tower.

Dr. Steven G. Gabbe, the medical center’s CEO, says the building will be impressive on the outside, and the inside is meant to be uplifting for patients.

Officials say the project will be the largest in Ohio State’s history, creating 5,000 construction jobs over five years. The expansion itself is expected to generate 10,000 hospital and related jobs.

The plans are scheduled for unveiling at today’s meeting of the university’s trustees.

The tower will serve as the new home of the medical center’s cancer hospital and research institute and will house outpatient and critical-care services.