The University of Michigan Health is set to expand its presence in southeast Michigan with the purchase of 7.28 acres of vacant land at the former Kmart Corp. headquarters in Troy, Michigan. The university plans to build a multi-specialty facility on the property, with a focus on expanding clinical services and increasing patient access in Oakland County.

Dr. Marschall Runge, CEO of Michigan Medicine, expressed excitement about the long-term commitment to patients in Oakland County and highlighted the university’s efforts to create a statewide network of care that allows Michiganders to access world-class care closer to home. The facility will focus on advanced specialty and diagnostic services, marking the beginning of a broader U-M Health presence in southeast Michigan.

The new center will also include a clinical program for multidisciplinary cancer care. The building will adhere to university guidelines for Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) to minimize environmental impacts. The former Kmart Corp. headquarters, which opened in the early 1970s, has been vacant since 2006 following a merger with Sears Holdings Corp. and relocation of operations to suburban Chicago.

Demolition of the building and parking structure began last year, with Forbes/Frankel Troy Ventures funding the project. The windows on the rear of the headquarters were boarded up prior to the demolition in 2023. Overall, this expansion represents a significant investment by U-M Health in creating a healthcare hub for the community.

In recent years, there has been growing demand for specialized medical services in Southeast Michigan as people seek out high-quality care without having to travel far from home. This expansion at Kmart site aims to fill that gap by providing patients with access to advanced specialty and diagnostic services that they may not have had before.

“The expansion at this location is an important step for us,” said Dr Runge “We are committed to bringing world-class care closer