Roper St. Francis breaks ground on Mount Pleasant pavilion

Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Choate Construction closed out March by breaking ground on a new Health Pavilion in Mount Pleasant.

Located at 512 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. at the intersection of Mathis Ferry Road, the three-story, 68,000-square-foot facility is designed to expand access to care for the growing Mount Pleasant community by offering multiple health care services in one location.

When complete, the Roper St. Francis Health Pavilion will feature a freestanding emergency department and imaging services on the first floor, women’s health services and therapy on the second floor and oncology services including infusion, a clinic and a pharmacy on the third floor.

“As the Lowcountry continues to grow, so does our commitment to being here for the communities we serve,” said Joseph DeLeon, president and CEO of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “The Health Pavilion on Johnnie Dodds will expand access to care for patients in Mount Pleasant and surrounding communities while reinforcing our long-standing commitment to provide high-quality care when and where people need it most.”

The facility is intended to meet increasing demand for health care services in Mount Pleasant and aligns with Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s 2030 Strategic Plan to optimize its footprint and address future clinical needs, the organization says.

The site, near the base of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, has remained vacant since a Cadillac dealership was demolished nearly a decade ago, the release stated.

The Health Pavilion is being built in partnership with Choate Construction. Matt Brewer, president and CEO of Choate Construction Co., said the project reflects an important investment in health care infrastructure.

“Health care construction is some of the most complex work in our industry, and this project deserves nothing less than the best,” Brewer said in the release. “We’re proud to partner with Roper St. Francis and this team to deliver a facility that will make a lasting impact in the Mount Pleasant community we’ve called home for 30 years.”

Construction is expected to begin in May 2026 and be completed in December 2027.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare is a not-for-profit system that reinvests in community health needs across the Charleston region. The system includes four hospitals, six emergency departments and nearly 120 facilities and services across four counties, supported by about 7,000 employees and more than 1,000 physicians.

Choate Construction Company provides commercial construction services nationwide, with expertise across health care, industrial, hospitality and mixed-use sectors. The company emphasizes a partnership-driven approach and community-focused initiatives.

Other contractors include e4h, Storey, DWG Consulting Engineers, ADC Engineering and SeamonWhiteside.