Construction Begins On $158 Million Helen and Jacob Shaham Academic Medical Center In Miami

Construction has begun on the Helen and Jacob Shaham Academic Medical Center, a 7-story academic and healthcare facility set for the campus of Florida International University in Miami. The $158 million project is being developed through a partnership between Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and Baptist Health South Florida, with Stantec serving as architect and a joint venture between Robins & Morton and Thornton Construction serving as general contractor. Upon completion in 2028, the facility will encompass approximately 163,000 square feet of academic, research, and outpatient healthcare space.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on May 27, marking the start of construction on what is expected to become a central component of FIU Medicine’s expanding clinical enterprise. The new facility will bring together medical education, research, and patient care within a purpose-built structure designed to support physician training and community healthcare needs.

Credit: Stantec.

Renderings from Stantec depict a contemporary glass-and-metal structure organized around a series of articulated volumes and expansive glazing. The design is said to emphasize transparency and connectivity between clinical, educational, and research functions while presenting a prominent institutional presence on the FIU campus.

The building will house academic learning environments alongside outpatient multi-specialty medical services. Planned healthcare offerings include diagnostic imaging, same-day surgery capabilities, and a range of ambulatory care services intended to improve access to outpatient treatment throughout the region. Baptist Health South Florida will serve as the care provider and will oversee operations once the facility opens.

This project arrives amid growing demand for healthcare infrastructure across South Florida as population growth continues to place additional pressure on medical systems throughout the region. At the same time, healthcare institutions are expanding educational facilities to address projected physician shortages and strengthen workforce development pipelines.

The facility is named after Helen and Jacob Shaham in recognition of their $30 million gift to FIU Medicine, the largest donation in the medical school’s 20-year history. The Shahams are the founders of The Palace Group, one of South Florida’s most prominent luxury senior living operators. After emigrating from Israel, they established the company in 1980 and expanded it into a portfolio of senior living communities across Miami-Dade County.

Once completed, the Helen and Jacob Shaham Academic Medical Center will serve as a new hub for medical education and outpatient care in Miami, bringing together physicians, researchers, students, and patients within a single integrated facility.

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