Hospitals Expand to Meet Growing Population Demands in Northern Colorado

UCHealth and AdventHealth propose new hospitals near I-25 and CO-7, while Boulder Community Health expands its Foothills campus

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Hospital systems in Northern Colorado are expanding to meet the needs of the region's growing population. UCHealth and AdventHealth are proposing new hospitals across from each other near the I-25 and Colorado Highway 7 interchange, while Boulder Community Health is expanding its Foothills campus to relieve pressure on its emergency, surgical, and inpatient services. These expansions aim to improve access to care and reduce travel times for patients.

Why it matters

Northern Colorado's aging population and continued in-migration are driving higher demand for healthcare services, especially emergency, surgical, and specialty care. The proposed hospital expansions could create a healthcare cluster that drives research, innovation, and quality care, similar to the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. However, the regional expansion also raises concerns about potential competition for healthcare workers in an already tight labor market.

The details

UCHealth's proposed project near I-25 and CO-7 includes housing and retail amenities, while AdventHealth's plan complements its broader repositioning of services along the U.S. Highway 36 corridor. In Boulder, Boulder Community Health is launching a 29,630-square-foot addition to its Foothills campus to relieve pressure on its emergency department, surgical suites, and inpatient rooms. Leadership says patient volumes have been climbing 5% to 10% annually in some areas, with emergency and surgical services frequently at capacity.

  • In February 2026, Bizwest published an editorial about the hospital expansions in Northern Colorado.
  • UCHealth and AdventHealth have proposed new hospital projects near the I-25 and CO-7 interchange.
  • Boulder Community Health is launching a plan to expand its Foothills campus in Boulder.

The players

UCHealth

A nonprofit health system that is proposing a new hospital project near the I-25 and CO-7 interchange, which would include housing and retail amenities.

AdventHealth

A health system that is proposing a new hospital project near the I-25 and CO-7 interchange, complementing its broader repositioning of services along the U.S. Highway 36 corridor.

Boulder Community Health

A community-based nonprofit hospital system that is launching a plan to expand its Foothills campus in Boulder to relieve pressure on its emergency department, surgical suites, and inpatient rooms.

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What’s next

The City and County of Broomfield must weigh in on the architectural renderings, job counts, traffic impacts, housing for healthcare workers, and other factors related to the proposed hospital projects near the I-25 and CO-7 interchange.

The takeaway

The hospital expansions in Northern Colorado have the potential to improve access to healthcare services and create a healthcare cluster that drives research, innovation, and quality care. However, the regional expansion also raises concerns about potential competition for healthcare workers and the need to avoid duplication of services. Careful planning and collaboration between the healthcare systems will be essential to maximize the benefits for the growing population.