Colorado Springs, CO – Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) recently celebrated the groundbreaking of what will be the region’s first pediatric-only hospital in southern Colorado: Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs.
“We are celebrating more than breaking ground. We are celebrating the fact that countless children from across southern Colorado will be able to receive the specialized pediatric care and expertise they deserve much closer to home,” said Jena Hausmann, CEO of Children’s Colorado. “Thank you for so warmly welcoming us into your community and partnering with us as we reimagine child health.”
“Home to nearly half a million residents, Colorado Springs was one of only three of the top 80 metro areas in the country lacking a comprehensive pediatric hospital and health system – until now,” said John Suthers, mayor of Colorado Springs. “The expansion of Children’s Colorado in our community not only positively impacts the region from an overall economic and community development standpoint, it brings world-class pediatric care to the children and families in our community.”
More than 300 attendees came together to mark the occasion. Digging into a sandboxS;, the Mayor and City Council joined Children’s Colorado leadership and patients to symbolically kick off the construction of the facility.
“This is an exciting milestone for our team,” said Greg Raymond, regional vice president of Children’s Colorado in southern Colorado. “Our team members have been working toward this hospital for years, as we passionately believe the children in our community need and deserve the best possible care. Our new hospital will house the city’s first pediatric-only emergency department, staffed by doctors who are double-board certified in both pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. It also will house the first pediatric-only operating rooms in the region, which will contain specialized equipment designed for children and teens.”
Located at the intersection of Briargate Pkwy. and N. Union Blvd. in the Briargate neighborhood of Colorado Springs, the new hospital is expected to be completed in late 2018. The 294,000-square-foot facility will be a freestanding hospital and will contain five levels plus a lower level. Other features include a neonatal intensive care unit, a pediatric intensive care unit, a sleep study lab, a designated space for behavioral health treatment, and the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders.
“I am honored to stand here today knowing we are one step closer to fulfilling our vision of creating a healthier Colorado for our children and grandchildren,” said Merv Bennett, president of Colorado Springs City Council. “This occasion reinforces that we made the right decision in choosing Children’s Hospital Colorado as a community partner. They are not just helping sick kids. Their mission is to improve child health overall by helping keep kids healthy and out of the hospital when they can.”
Children’s Colorado is paying special attention to factors that will also help improve the family experience, such as private inpatient rooms with sleeping areas and beds for families, private bathrooms, views of Pikes Peak, playrooms, and family areas for parents and siblings.
“When Jordan had a heart attack at the age of 12, we didn’t know if she would live, much less recover full brain function,” said David Peak, whose daughter survived a sudden cardiac arrest and was later diagnosed with heart arrhythmia and a pulmonary embolism – a blockage in one of the lung’s arteries. Thankfully, Children’s Hospital Colorado has one of the best pediatric heart programs in the country, with patient survival rates ranking in the top five percent nationwide. “Having this hospital even closer to kids here in southern Colorado will truly be game-changing for families in our region.”
Images courtesy of Children’s Hospital Colorado
[Editor’s Note: GE Johnson is the contractor and FKP Architects is the architect on this project.]
