The emergency department at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester will more than triple in size with a $650 million expansion, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced on Friday.

The expansion will also add a new nine-story patient tower, resulting in a total of 650,000 square feet of new space.

The governor’s office said the project was awarded $50 million through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV.

Leaders from New York state and the University of Rochester Medical Center gathered Friday at a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the project.

"Today marks a monumental step forward for health care in Rochester and the surrounding area as we break ground on this transformational expansion of Strong Memorial Hospital,” Hochul said in a statement. “This is not just an investment in a building - it's an investment in the well-being of our community, ensuring that every resident has access to state-of-the-art medical services and care where and when they need it most."

It is expected to be completed in 2027.