NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Officials with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt have announced plans for a new construction project, which will add four floors to the existing building.
The plans were announced during a celebration Wednesday. About 300 community supporters and Vanderbilt leaders came out to sign a 10-foot white beam to mark the occasion.
Hospital officials said the project will allow the main hospital and clinics to serve more children and their families. Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital already serves about 1,400 children and families each day.
According to a release, 40,000 square feet will be added to each floor and will increase the hospital’s total size to 1 million square feet once completed.
"For those of us with a child in our lives this is the place that gives us hope when we need it most," said Dr. Jeff Balser, of Vanderbilt Medical Center. "Few things could be more important than what we are here for today. Making this place even more accessible to the children of this growing community."
Thirty-eight intensive care beds for newborns and other critically ill pediatric patients will be added to the first finished floor.
Leaders said the goal of the “Growing to New Heights” campaign is to raise $40 million over three years to create funds that will support the total estimated cost of the building’s $100 million expansion.
The project is set to get underway in early winter.
