Children’s Health And UTSW Break Ground On New Pediatric Campus In Dallas With $100 Million Gift

The Rees-Jones Foundation made for an extra special groundbreaking at UTSW Children’s Health’s new $5 billion pediatric camps with its largest donation to date.

The likes of Dirk Nowitzki and Troy Aikman joined Children’s Health and UT Southwestern leaders today to break ground on what will be the largest greenfield pediatric campus in the country.

The 4.7 million-square-foot campus, built by UT Southwestern and Children’s Health’s joint pediatric enterprise, will consist of two 12-story towers, an 8-story tower, and expanded inpatient, surgical, and ambulatory capacity. It will be connected to UTSW’s Clements University Hospital via a skybridge across Harry Hines Boulevard.

The hospital will grow to 552 beds, additional operating rooms, 90 emergency department exam rooms, a new fetal care center, more than 20 acres of green space with trails and a courtyard, modern patient rooms with customizable lighting, sleeping arrangements for caregivers, and plenty of natural light. Eight rehab and therapy gyms, 13 playrooms for various ages and interests, two retail pharmacies, a juice bar, three coffee shops, and a food hall are also in the works.

“For more than 110 years, Children’s Health, together with our 60-year partners at UT Southwestern, have sought to provide the best care available to the families of North Texas. 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,” said Christopher Durovich, president and chief executive officer of Children’s Health. “This new Dallas campus will be a beacon of hope and healing for our children today – and for generations to come.”

The Rees-Jones Foundation’s $100 million donation is the second such gift for the new campus in the past few months–the first came from the Pogue family in May. It marks the first time a nonprofit construction project has received two $100 million gifts. Pogue Park at the new campus will recognize Pogue’s gift, and the Rees-Jones gift will be reflected in the central hospital tower being named the Rees-Jones Tower, which will serve as the main hospital entrance and lobby for patients and families.

The foundation previously gave $35 million to Children’s Health, part of which established the Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence, which is the only clinic in North Texas designed explicitly for patients in the child welfare system.

“We are grateful for our strong relationship with Children’s Health and UT Southwestern, two organizations that align with our interest in providing quality medical care to those in our community most in need, particularly our children and youth suffering from various medical conditions,” said Jan Rees-Jones. “Our family is thankful to be involved in building the new Dallas pediatric hospital and campus, a facility that will change lives both in our community and around the world.”

The foundation, founded in 2006, has also given $10 million to UT Southwestern since 2016.

“Today marks an important milestone for UT Southwestern and our long-standing partner, Children’s Health, as we endeavor to set a new standard for excellence in pediatric health care, education, and research,” said Dr. Daniel Podolsky, President of UT Southwestern. “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.”

Source: D Magazine