St. Jude outlines $810 million Advanced Research Center II project near Downtown Memphis, targeting 2,000 jobs
A new high-rise research facility is planned for the St. Jude campus
Plans have advanced for a major expansion on the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital campus near Downtown Memphis: a proposed Advanced Research Center II (ARC II), a 16-story tower with an estimated total project cost of about $810 million. The facility is designed to expand laboratory, office and support space for additional researchers and staff, and planning materials indicate the project is expected to support roughly 2,000 jobs tied to the expanded campus activity.
The site identified in planning records is 595 Danny Thomas Place, on approximately 5.8 acres near the intersection of A.W. Willis Avenue and Danny Thomas Boulevard. The proposed work would clear and replace multiple existing buildings on the parcel as part of the new construction.
Scale, design team, and early construction steps
The proposed ARC II building is described in filings and related project materials as approximately 865,000 square feet and about 280 feet tall. The project team named in publicly available materials includes Elkus Manfredi Architects as architect and Yates Construction as general contractor for major phases of the work.
Construction for projects of this size typically proceeds in stages, with separate permits and sequencing for demolition, foundations, structure, and specialized interior buildouts. Project documentation indicates early work has included foundation-related activity under separate permitting, consistent with a phased approach used for large research facilities.
How ARC II fits into St. Jude’s broader campus growth
ARC II is framed as part of St. Jude’s multi-year strategic plan covering fiscal years 2022 through 2027, which includes campus investments intended to expand scientific capacity, modernize infrastructure, and grow the institution’s workforce. The same strategic plan also outlines “Project 2300,” an institutional hiring initiative aimed at adding approximately 2,300 employees over the plan period.
St. Jude has already added major facilities in recent years and has additional clinical and operational projects underway, reflecting a sustained expansion of its Downtown-adjacent campus footprint and supporting services.
Key facts at a glance
- Estimated project cost: about $810 million
- Building: 16 stories, roughly 865,000 square feet, about 280 feet tall
- Location: 595 Danny Thomas Place, near A.W. Willis Avenue and Danny Thomas Boulevard
- Site size: about 5.8 acres, with plans to clear and replace existing buildings
- Projected employment impact: about 2,000 jobs associated with expanded operations
- Named project participants in public materials: Elkus Manfredi Architects (architect) and Yates Construction (general contractor)
What comes next
The project is expected to continue through standard local review and permitting steps as it moves from site work into full vertical construction and, later, highly specialized laboratory fit-outs. As the project progresses, additional public records are expected to clarify phasing, construction milestones, and operational timing for bringing new research space online.
ARC II is positioned as an expansion intended to increase research capacity on the St. Jude campus, aligning new facilities with workforce growth objectives already set out in the institution’s current strategic plan.