On Nov. 16, Joan Magruder, St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) president, followed a longstanding tradition in the construction industry of signing the final beam of structural steel—the “topping out” beam—for the SLCH Expansion. The structure’s first beam was set in June; occupancy of the 214,000-square-foot expansion is projected for 2018. The 12-story facility will house 96 additional private inpatient beds and space to accommodate a growing demand for diagnostic and treatment services. The newborn intensive care unit (NICU) will add 97 new/renovated beds, and the unit will be co-located with labor and delivery to improve the patient and family experience.
The SLCH Expansion is one element of a Campus Renewal Project encompassing SLCH and Barnes-Jewish Hospital along with Washington University School of Medicine. Through renovations and new construction, the 10-year project, which began in mid-2013, aims to create an environment and experience for patients that match the excellence in medical care they expect.
