The UCF Lake Nona Medical Center just got the final green light from the state to start construction.

  • UCF gets final OK to start building hospital within 18 months
  • UCF Lake Nona Medical Center will be next to College of Medicine
  • 100-bed hospital expected to open to patients by end of 2020

UCF and HCA Healthcare’s North Florida Division will start building the 100-bed hospital next to the College of Medicine in Lake Nona within 18 months, UCF said in a statement.

The state’s Agency for Health Care Administration this week gave final certificate of need approval for the hospital, which is expected to open by the end of 2020.

HCA North Florida Division will contribute $175 million to build and begin operating the hospital, and UCF will provide land. No state dollars will be used to build the facility, UCF said.

The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s 12 public universities, approved the public-private hospital in March after AHCA had given the facility preliminary certificate of need approval.

UCF will be allowed to grow the hospital to up to 500 beds without further approval from the Board of Governors. It will train third- and fourth-year medical students, conduct clinical research and provide residency opportunities.