The board of Children's Medical Center Dallas has hired FKPArchitects Inc. of Houston to develop a plan that, if it comes tofruition, could add high-demand specialties like a pediatricsnursing school, research facilities, school of allied health,school of pharmacy and therapeutic aquatics or equestrian centersto the under-construction campus, which has three-eighths milefrontage along Preston Road and one-quarter mile along HedgcoxeRoad. The master plan is to be done by June so it can be reviewedand ready to go to the board in September, Lou Saksen, vicepresident of facilities for Children's Medical Center Dallas, tellsGlobeSt.com.

"These are dreams right now," Saksen stresses. "We haven'tpursued them yet."

Although planning is in the early stages, he says it's notunrealistic to envision a groundbreaking in 2010. He also saysfuture plans most likely will include more partners than just UTSouthwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "But, we will talk to themto see if they're interested in taking our research space," headds.