Roper St. Francis Healthcare will sell Roper Hospital property by 2029

Purchase sale agreement approved Saturday by MUSC Board of Trustees; Current Roper Hospital will remain fully operational for patients

Roper St. Francis Healthcare is announcing its plans to sell the 11.5-acre property where Roper Hospital is located at 316 Calhoun St. in Charleston to the Medical University Hospital Authority (MUSC Health).

The transaction will not be finalized until Roper St. Francis Healthcare relocates hospital operations, anticipated for late 2029, to the Roper Hospital Medical Campus in North Charleston. The sale comprises three parcels:

• The 900,000-square-foot hospital building

• The parcel where the medical office building sits, along with the adjacent parking
• Parking garages on Doughty and Lucas streets

The purchase sale agreement for this transaction was approved by the MUSC Board of Trustees on Saturday, Aug. 10.

“Since Roper Hospital opened downtown in 1856, it is – and always has been – more than a building. We are a close camaraderie of caregivers and teammates who come together every day to heal the community,” said Dr. Megan Baker, chief operating officer of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “Where and how we operate has consistently evolved to meet the needs of Charleston as it has grown throughout its history, and this transition reflects our commitment to adapting to the changing needs of our community while providing the highest quality of care.”

This agreement signifies an intent to sell, ensuring that Roper Hospital will remain fully operational and continue serving patients at its current location on the Charleston peninsula until the relocation to North Charleston is complete. The final sale price will be determined based on a fair market value assessment to be conducted in 2029.

“MUSC and Roper St. Francis Healthcare have both loyally and in parallel served the Charleston community for 170 years. Our shared, long-standing commitment, and rich legacies of caring for and improving health care for the people of Charleston is unique and admirable,” said David J. Cole, M.D., FACS, MUSC President. “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with RSFH through this transition and into the future.”

The move to the North Charleston campus near Interstates 26 and 526 will mark a significant step in the Roper St. Francis Healthcare 2030 strategic plan to broaden access to quality care and expand the health system’s footprint in the Lowcountry. 

From its central location, the Roper Hospital Medical Campus will include a full-service acute care hospital with a 24-hour emergency room, state-of-the-art operating rooms and the latest in technology and design for inpatient care, as well as a medical office building with a vast array of outpatient and specialty care services. 

Roper St. Francis Healthcare is committed to continuing its longstanding legacy on the peninsula, where its first hospital opened in 1856 at the corner of Queen and Logan streets. Leaders are developing plans and evaluating multiple sites to ensure the area’s largest healthcare system retains a strong presence on the peninsula.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare is also committed to working alongside MUSC Health as a community partner to ensure a smooth transition in the coming years. Dr. Baker said the agreement to sell the Roper Hospital property reflects a mutual respect for MUSC Health and a shared dedication to the health of our community.

“We recognize MUSC for its strong academic mission and position as a valuable community partner,” she said. “This plan will help both organizations meet community healthcare needs and will advance Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s mission of healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.”