The big picture
The new campus aims to expand inpatient, surgical and ambulatory capacity to help meet pediatric care demands across the region. North Texas’ pediatric population of 2.5 million is expected to surpass 3 million by 2032 and double by 2050, according to the news release.
Growth has been driven by population booms in cities surrounding Dallas, such as Frisco and McKinney. The under-18 population in Collin County increased more than 11% between 2018-2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The under-18 population increased 2.5% in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area overall during the same time period.
The details
The new campus will feature two 12-story towers and an eight-story tower totaling about 2 million square feet of space near the intersection of Harry Hines Boulevard and Mockingbird Lane. In addition to expanding care capacities, the new campus aims to act as a regional hub for academic research, training and technological development, according to the news release.
Children’s Health and UT Southwestern announced the new campus in February. Officials expect to complete construction on the campus in six or seven years.
UT Southwestern President Daniel Podolsky said in a statement that the groundbreaking marks an important milestone for UT Southwestern and Children’s Health.
“This transformative project follows years of careful consideration and collaboration, and it positions us to more effectively meet the needs of our growing community and provide the best environment possible for the care of pediatric patients and support of their families,” he said.
By the numbers
The new campus will include:
- 552 beds
- Two helicopter pads
- A Level 1 pediatric trauma center
- 90 emergency department exam rooms
- 24 observation rooms
- A fetal care center
- 96 outpatient exam rooms
The central hospital tower at the new campus will be named Rees-Jones Tower in honor of a $100 million gift from the Rees-Jones Foundation. The funds will be used to support campus construction.
Zooming out
Children’s Health is also on the cusp of opening a new 395,000-square-foot patient tower at its Plano Medical Center later in 2024. The tower will triple the medical center’s bed count and add new specialty care services, including neurology, pulmonology and surgical services.
Children’s Health operates several medical centers and specialty care centers throughout communities around Dallas-Fort Worth, including Frisco, Grapevine, Plano and Prosper.
