How Massachusetts General Hospital will use $100M gift

Massachusetts General Hospital’s roots trace back more than two centuries, but the hospital says a remarkable contribution will pave the way for a sleek, modern building and more cutting-edge care.

The New Balance Foundation has donated $100 million to Massachusetts General Hospital. The money will finance a new tower for cardiovascular care, slated to open in 2030.

The New Balance Foundation has donated $100 million to the Boston hospital, a founding member of Mass General Brigham. The foundation is the charitable arm of New Balance, the athletic footwear and apparel company based in Boston.

The hospital is planning to build a new tower for cardiovascular care. The tower will be named the New Balance Foundation Tower, and it’ll be connected to the Phillip and Susan Ragon Building.

David F. M. Brown, MD, president of academic medical centers at Mass General Brigham, said the system is “deeply grateful” for the contribution. He noted the long ties both organizations have in Boston.

“It is only fitting that our two organizations both emerged from humble beginnings in the city of Boston and whose community footprint and commitment to service now extends to those throughout New England, across the country, and around the world,” Brown said in a statement.

Construction on the building is slated to begin in 2027, and the tower is expected to be open for patients in 2030.

The new tower is expected to offer five floors for inpatient services, including 190 acute care beds and 32 cardiac ICU beds. Combined with the building’s east tower, the facility will have 482 private inpatient rooms.

The hospital says there will be a pedestrian connector linking the building to the Massachusetts General Hospital campus. System officials say the tower is being designed to operate independently for up to four days in the event of an emergency.

Plans also call for a conference center and an auditorium with more than 300 seats; a healing garden; and four levels of underground parking.

The tower is also being designed for environmental sustainability, the system says.

Anne Davis, managing trustee of the New Balance Foundation, said the organization is “proud to support Mass General Brigham in their pursuit of advancing care for patients in Boston and beyond.”

““This gift reflects our commitment to building healthier communities and supporting institutions that share our values of innovation, access, and excellence,” Davis said in a statement. “We believe deeply in the power of place—and the New Balance Foundation Tower will be a place of healing, hope, and progress for generations to come.”

The health system says the tower will serve as a training ground for residents, fellows and interns.

Another major player in running shoes recently made a significant donation in health care.

Phil Knight, the co-founder of Nike, and his wife Penny Knight have pledged to donate $2 billion to Oregon Health & Science University.

Read more: How Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will use Jeffrey Lurie’s $50M gift for autism research