Image courtesy of NBBJ

Massachusetts General Hospital has unveiled plans for its $1.8 billion expansion designed to relieve emergency room overcrowding and provide more single-bed patient rooms.

Although the 1 million-square-foot project has been in planning since 2015, hospital officials say the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need for more flexible use of intensive care and emergency room space.

“MGH has not been able to fully utilize all of its beds for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In the event of a future pandemic, MGH must have the inpatient capacity necessary to care for patients and allow for timely admission from the Emergency Department to the appropriate care setting,” hospital executives stated in a filing with the Boston Planning & Development Agency.

The 14-story building would be built on a nearly 3-acre site bounded by Parkman, Blossom, North Grove and Cambridge Streets, which is currently occupied by five small buildings and a parking garage, all of which would be demolished, and surface parking.

The new building would house 482 hospital beds along with clinical and support space, space for an entrance to a potential future Blue Line station beneath the MBTA Red Line’s Charles/MGH stop, and 977 below-grade parking spaces.

The expansion was first announced in 2019. The hospital filed its detailed plans Thursday with the BPDA, which will host the first virtual public meeting on May 4.