Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center celebrated the groundbreaking of a new $5 billion pediatric medical campus located in Dallas on Tuesday this week.
The state-of-the-art facility aims to replace the current Children’s Medical Center Dallas and is set to serve as a hub for pediatric medicine in Texas, according to a recent press release from the UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The new campus, located at the intersection of Harry Hines Boulevard and Paul M. Bass Way, will feature more than 4.7 million square feet of new construction, including a pediatric hospital with two 12 story towers, and an additional eight story tower.
According to UT Southwestern, “the pediatric population is expected to double by 2050.”
Christopher Durovich, President and CEO of Children’s Health, spoke on the commitment to providing exceptional care for Texas families, and the state’s growing population.
“Today, as we prepare for the tremendous growth in the area’s pediatric population, through this new pediatric campus we are reaffirming our promise that every child in this community will have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges they face,” Durovich said.
“This new Dallas campus will be a beacon of hope and healing for our children today, and for generations to come,” he added.
The hospital facilities are designed to accommodate a full spectrum of pediatric needs, from routine check-ups to specialized surgical treatments.
The new pediatric campus will feature a range of specialized facilities for children and their families, including 522 new patient beds, 24 observation rooms, a modern Level I pediatric trauma center equipped with 90 emergency exam rooms as well as a dedicated fetal care center that offers direct access to UT Southwestern’s William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital.
Additionally, the campus will encompass over 20 acres of green space and walking trails.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, it was announced that The Rees-Jones Foundation has made a $100 million donation to support the construction. This is a historic donation, as it is the first time in Texas that a nonprofit project has received two separate gifts of this magnitude, according to UT Southwestern, following a similar donation from the Jean and Mack Pogue family earlier this year. The central hospital tower will be named the Rees-Jones Tower in honor of the landmark contribution.
Dr. Daniel K. Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern, described the project as a vital milestone in setting a high standard for pediatric healthcare, education and research in Texas.
“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,” Podolsky said.
In 2022 UT Southwestern Medical Center was ranked as the number one hospital in the DFW area, for the sixth year in a row at that time, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Additionally, as detailed in a July press release, the hospital earned national rankings in nine medical “specialties” that year.