Plans for Major New Hospital Finalized

The new hospital will be headquarters for Children's network of care and will be located on approximately 41 acres at the biomedical campus being developed by the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

Dori Biester, PhD, RN, and Children's president and CEO, says the new renderings "provided a glimpse of the world-class facility that will be the future resource for excellent clinical care, research, education and advocacy for the next generations of children. Our vision is to create a pediatric network, anchored by one of the premier children's hospitals in the world."

Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership of Portland, OR, is designing the new hospital to provide a less stressful environment for children and promote family-centered care.

"We spent a great deal of time with hospital staff, doctors and nurses as well as children and families," says Bob Frasca, ZGF design partner. "It became clear that the building needed to express the depth of quality and level of care Children's is recognized for, both in the medical sense and in the human sense. The idea is not to impress, but to embrace patients and families."

"We are striving for a building that is welcoming and prominent, yet not intimidating," says Frasca. "The focal point of the hospital is a central atrium, which introduces light into the heart of the building and provides a clear reference point for various components of this 1.2 million-sf complex."

In addition, building elements will take advantage of, and protect from, the varying climate conditions of Colorado as well as embrace the states landscape, he says. Covered entrances will protect from sun and snow and overhangs will filter sun through windows, while still providing views. Spaces such as roof decks, terraces and gardens adjacent to the cafeteria and conference center expand activities to the outdoors and provide places for everyday community events.

The cost for the hospital itself is estimated between $250 million and $300 million. The total project cost, which includes much more than the hospital, is projected to be approximately $450 million. The components of the project include the inpatient facility, outpatient clinics, a pavilion for specialized services, offices for faculty and staff and infrastructure.

Children's expects to break ground in the late spring of 2004. Other features of the new facility include private rooms with patient accommodations, significant outdoor green space with children's play areas and patient, family and staff amenities for enhanced privacy.

Founded in 1908, The Children's Hospital is a private, not-for-profit pediatric health care network. It is consistently ranked one of the best children's hospitals in America by U.S. News & World Report and other publications. With 1,081 pediatric specialists and more than 2,000 full-time employees, Children's is home to a number of nationally and internationally recognized medical programs.