The New Children’s Hospital Opens its Doors to Media

Children's Hospital Colorado provides a sneak peak at its new world-class facilities
 

Children's Hospital Colorado welcomed members of the media on September 6 to tour its new state-of-the-art facilities at I-225 and Colfax Avenue prior to the facility’s opening on Sept. 29, 2007.

The new, 1.45 million-square-foot pediatric hospital in Aurora, Colo., is 73 percent larger than the current facility. The new building has nine floors and 270 beds, 14 operating rooms, two cardiology surgical operating rooms and nine minor surgical procedure suites.

“Our new location gives Children’s the space it needs to treat more than 100,000 children each year and provide them with access to the most modern technologies and advanced medical care,” said Jim Shmerling, D.H.A., president and CEO of Children's Hospital Colorado.

The media tours included a visit to the 49-room Emergency Department; an innovative Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with sound-proofing and sensitive light levels; a Teen Lounge where teenage patients can spend time relaxing with their favorite movies, video games, music and more; and the Boettcher Atrium – an area bathed in natural light and decorated with original art work from local artists that serves as the hospital’s main entry.

“Every aspect of the hospital was designed with the best interests of patients and their families in mind,” says Shmerling. The new facilities feature nearly all private patient rooms and bathrooms with sleeping accommodations for family members and a range of increased family-based amenities, including family lounges, a family library and business center and expanded sibling care.

Representatives from Phipps McCarthy, project managers overseeing the construction of the new facility, H&L Architecture and Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF) were on hand to discuss the building’s three-year construction and design process.

“Our commitment to providing the best medical care to children remains steadfast,” says Shmerling. “Our new campus will serve as the anchor for our growing network of healthcare professionals working together to help meet the full range of pediatric needs of the entire region.”

Children's Hospital Colorado, recently ranked fourth in U.S.News & World Report's “America's Best Children's Hospitals” issue, is the only dedicated pediatric hospital in the Rocky Mountain region and serves patients from around the world. During the past 10 years, Children's Hospital Colorado has treated more than 23,000 patients from outside Colorado.

Children's Hospital Colorado will continue to have a presence in downtown Denver with the capacity to serve approximately 10,000 patients each year at a new pediatric hospital at Exempla-Saint Joseph Hospital. The new 16-bed facility, called Children's Hospital Colorado at Saint Joseph Hospital, is due to open on September 17 and will include pediatric care and emergency services, all of which will be completely staffed and supported by Children's Hospital Colorado-credentialed pediatricians and nurses.

Media Coverage of the Tour

Bright Look for Children's (Denver Post)

Patients Will Make 8-mile Move to Anschutz Medical Campus Sept. 29 (Rocky Mountain News)

Children's Hospital Colorado Moves to Fitzsimons (9News)

New Children's Hospital Set To Open: Hospital Will Join Medical Campus In Aurora (7News)