LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ACH) - If you've driven down I-630 in Little Rock at some point over the past four years, you've probably seen a giant crane towering over the south side of Arkansas Children's Hospital.
It's all part of the new South Wing, the largest construction project in the hospital's 100-year history with a price tag of $121 million.
The four-story South Wing will create an additional 54 inpatient beds, expanding the hospital's pediatric Heart Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
David Berry is Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Arkansas Children's Hospital and says the addition will help better serve more Arkansas kids and families by increasing the total bed availability to 370.
The South Wing will include new and relocated Hematology/Oncology and Infant-Toddler units, a new Emergency Department with an orthopedics suite, decontamination unit and dedicated trauma rooms, an expanded clinic space (56 new exam rooms and 19 additional procedural or diagnostic rooms), a new and relocated Dental Clinic and an Emergency Dept Trauma Center funded by Log A Load for Kids.
Some key features of the wing are a rootop garden with a new playground area, an atrium, four family "houses" with living area, kitchen space, washers and dryers, and showers for family members and even a constellation fixture above elliptical stairs.
A ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Governor Mike Beebe will take place Wednesday, June 13 and departments will start moving into the facility later this month.
(Source: Arkansas Children's Hospital)