Skanska contract launches new UNC Health outpatient campus in Durham
Skanska USA has signed an additional $68 million contract with UNC Health to construct a new medical office building and a large parking deck in Durham, the companies announced in a paid press release. The work is the initial phase of a planned greenfield medical campus and expands the footprint of UNC Health’s outpatient facilities in the region.
The contract covers site development, infrastructure, early equipment, and the core and shell of a six‑story medical office building totaling roughly 191,000 square feet (about 17,700 square meters), along with an 890‑space parking deck. Project activity began in June 2026, and Skanska expects to complete construction in April 2028.
Construction approach and standards
Skanska said the project will use a significant amount of prefabrication, including unitized curtainwall systems, prefabricated exterior wall cladding and offsite prefabricated exam room pods. Officials described the contract as establishing new design and construction standards for UNC Health’s outpatient facilities, signaling that the campus may serve as a prototype for future projects.
- Contract value: $68 million
- Building size: ~191,000 square feet (17,700 m2)
- Floors: Six
- Parking: 890 spaces
- Timeline: Began June 2026; expected completion April 2028
Local implications
For Durham residents, the project carries multiple near‑term and long‑term implications. During construction, the site is likely to generate local construction jobs and subcontracting opportunities, and the use of prefabricated components could affect hiring patterns by shifting some labor offsite. Once complete, the medical office building will expand outpatient capacity for UNC Health in Durham, potentially easing demand on existing facilities and offering more access points for specialized care.
Large parking decks — in this case nearly 900 spaces — also reshape transportation and traffic patterns in surrounding neighborhoods and on nearby streets. Residents and commuters should expect increased truck traffic and staging activity at the site during peak construction. The project team has not released detailed traffic mitigation plans in the announcement; city permitting and UNC Health communications typically address those details as projects advance.
Financial reporting and business context
Skanska said the additional contract will be included in its U.S. order bookings for the third quarter of 2026. The announcement comes as the company pursues more healthcare work in the United States, a sector that often relies on complex buildouts and coordinated infrastructure to serve outpatient needs.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contract value | $68 million |
| Building area | ~191,000 sq ft (17,700 m2) |
| Parking capacity | 890 spaces |
| Schedule | June 2026 — April 2028 (expected) |
The release lists Skanska communications contacts for media inquiries but did not provide neighborhood‑level project maps, exact street location, or a detailed community engagement schedule. Those specifics will be important for nearby residents concerned about construction impacts, utility work and longer‑term changes to traffic and parking in the area.
What to watch next
Durham residents should look for several follow‑up items in the coming months: official permitting documents submitted to the City of Durham, traffic management plans, community outreach meetings led by UNC Health or Skanska, and information on job fairs or contractor hiring that could create local employment. As the project advances to above‑ground work, more concrete timelines for lane closures and on‑site hours should become available.
The project represents a notable investment in Durham’s healthcare infrastructure and in construction activity in the city. How the campus integrates with nearby neighborhoods and existing UNC Health services will determine its broader impact on access to care and daily life for Durham residents.
