This is a conceptual drawing depicting the proposed construction of a 400,000-square-foot facility connected with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. (rendering courtesy of Earl Swennson Associates)
Property purchases broaden scope for Children's Hospital
Vanderbilt has purchased the parcel of land at 1501 21st Ave. South, currently the location of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and is also in contract to purchase the adjacent property which houses the Mapco Express at 1507 21st Ave. South. (photo by Susan Urmy)
Groundbreaking for construction of a 400,000-plus-square-foot facility, adjacent to and connected with the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, has moved a step closer with the purchase of additional property. Vanderbilt has purchased the parcel of land at 1501 21st Ave. South, which is currently the location of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and is also in contract to purchase the adjacent property which houses the Mapco Express at 1507 21st Ave. South.
“We’re very excited that we are moving toward groundbreaking for this much needed expansion,” said Kevin Churchwell, M.D., CEO of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. “For the past four years we have been able to offer the highest level care and comfort to all children and families here in Nashville and throughout the region, regardless of ability to pay. This plan is critical to be able to continue to offer that care as the need in this area grows.”
Since opening in 2004, the Children's Hospital has met with remarkable success, quickly reaching its capacity and creating a need for an earlier-than-expected expansion. Last month, The Campaign for Children and Mothers launched with a $20 million gift from the family of the late Monroe Carell Jr. to help fund the estimated $244 million expansion.
The proposed plan by Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. locates the expansion on the block between 21st Avenue and Medical Center Way, Pierce and Children's Way streets. The Dayani Center will be moved to Vanderbilt Health at One Hundred Oaks. Groundbreaking for the expansion is slated for 2009.
The plans for the expansion also include new construction to house an expanded Vanderbilt Obstetrics program, accommodating up to 5,000 deliveries when it opens. Construction will include 48 rooms for pregnant women and new mothers, 16 labor and delivery rooms, and three obstetric operating rooms. The design offers a covered entrance for drop-off and pick-up as well as a seven-level underground parking garage.
Several pediatric programs will be able to expand into the new space, helping to ease the capacity concerns in the current Children's Hospital. A connector will make the new building continuous with the Children's Hospital at the second-floor level, with smaller connectors on all other floors.
The expansion project will roughly double the working accommodations for mothers and children at Vanderbilt. Family, patient and community groups will be meeting to discuss space usage in anticipation of opening the new facility.