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Six local children help raise ribbon-adorned tree to celebrate construction milestone
HOUSTON, Texas – (July 8, 2009) – Brightly colored ribbons, each
representing the dream of a Houston-area child, decorated a tree
raised to the top of the Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus
building today in a ceremony to celebrate the hospital’s “topping
out.” In a construction tradition, a tree is raised to a building’s
highest point to mark the completion of the beam structure.
“Building our first community hospital has been a dream come true
for Texas Children’s Hospital,” said President and CEO Mark
A. Wallace. “We thought the best way to celebrate our dream was
to celebrate the dreams of children in our community.”
In preparation for this special approach to the ceremony, the
hospital collected more than 300 dreams that area children wished
for themselves, their family or friends. Six local children,
randomly selected from all children who submitted their dreams,
joined Wallace to give the official signal for the tree to be
raised.
Children participating in the ceremony included Gavin Wade Morgan,
age 3; Brandon Wees, age 4; Emily Schaefer, age 5;
Valencia Wilson-Weathers, age 9; Miranda Elizabeth Smith,
age 11; and Tobin Creswell, age 13. Members of the drum line
from Morton Ranch High School Maverick Band provided a dramatic drum
cadence as the tree was raised.
Many of the dreams received have been showcased on the Texas
Children’s Hospital West Campus web page and a selection will be
included in a commemorative print advertisement later this month.
The Dream Tree will be displayed on the roof of the West Campus
structure for a week and will then be planted in a special location
within the natural setting surrounding the hospital. Consistent with
evidence-based principles, the new Texas Children’s Hospital West
Campus incorporates interior and exterior design elements that
promote healing such as natural light, views of water and nature,
and park-like settings. When completed in late 2010, the West Campus
will provide outpatient and inpatient services and offer the only
dedicated pediatric emergency center in greater West Houston.
“The new West Campus will provide families in the rapidly growing
West Houston area with extended access to Texas Children’s
world-renowned family-centered pediatric healthcare services,” added
Wallace.
The West Campus topping out ceremony was attended by more than 300
guests including Texas Children’s Hospital executives, board members
and major contributors, as well as representatives from the
project’s construction company, Tellepsen Builders, and from
PageSoutherlandPage, the project’s architecture firm.
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed a barbeque lunch on the first
level of the hospital structure and heard remarks from Wallace and
Howard Tellepsen, chairman and CEO of Tellepsen Builders. Guests
were invited to sign special columns in the hospital’s lobby area
and got a firsthand look at how the West Campus construction is
progressing.
Located on 55 acres at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Barker
Cypress, the West Campus is Houston’s first community hospital
designed, built and staffed for children. It will be among the
nation’s largest suburban pediatric hospitals and will serve one of
the country’s fastest growing child populations. The hospital has
been designed to incorporate the best practices in pediatric
treatment environments and to provide the special accommodations
that families need in a children’s medical facility. The medical
campus is being built in phases, totaling 534,000 square feet, with
the outpatient clinic building and the inpatient facility scheduled
to open in late 2010. For more information, visit
www.westcampus.texaschildrens.org.
Texas Children’s Hospital is among the largest pediatric hospitals
in the country and is dedicated to serving children and families
through excellence in patient care, education and research. The
hospital’s new West Campus development is made possible in large
part through the generous support of corporations and families in
the local community who are committed to improving the health and
well-being of its children.
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy
children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education
and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough
developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is
ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News &
World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s
largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices
throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has
embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which
includes a comprehensive neurological research institute, the
formation of a maternity center, and the development of the new West
Campus, Texas Children’s first pediatric hospital in a suburban
setting. For more information on Texas Children's Hospital, visit
www.texaschildrens.org.
Back to topp
Dream Tree initiative launched to celebrate topping out of new West Campus facility
HOUSTON, Texas – (May 15,
2009) – The dream of building a pediatric community hospital in West Houston to help children live happy and healthy lives is coming true for Texas Children’s Hospital. Now, area children are invited to share their dreams with Texas Children’s. To celebrate an important construction milestone, the hospital is collecting dreams that area children wish for themselves, their family or friends.
A colorful ribbon representing each child’s dream will be tied to the “Dream Tree,” a loblolly pine, which will be raised to the top of the West Campus building in early July. In a construction tradition, a tree is raised to the building’s highest point during the topping out, a ceremony held when the overall structure of the building is complete.
Six lucky children will be selected in a random drawing from all dream submissions to participate in the topping out ceremony and help elevate the Dream Tree. After the ceremony, the Dream Tree will be planted on the grounds of the West Campus, in line with design plans that include park-like settings, water features and other elements to promote a serene, natural healing environment.
When fully completed in winter 2010, the West Campus, Houston’s only community hospital designed and built exclusively for children, will be among the nation’s largest suburban pediatric hospitals and will serve one of the country’s fastest growing child populations. The topping out ceremony is scheduled for late June.
“We are excited to build a hospital for the community’s children,” said Michelle Riley-Brown, assistant vice president, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus. “Soon, we will be topping out our hospital, but more importantly, we’ll be closer to completing a medical facility that will provide an innovative healing environment for the children and families we serve in West Houston.”
Beginning May 21, children in the greater West Houston community are invited to submit their dreams in one of two ways. Parents can submit their child’s dream online by visiting
www.westcampus.texaschildrens.org or completing an official Dream tree submission form at any of the five West Houston area YMCA locations. The deadline to submit dreams is June 30. Many of the dreams will be displayed on the Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus web page and a wide selection will appear in a commemorative print advertisement in mid July.
“We’re very excited to have reached this point in our construction,” added Riley-Brown. “It’s very important for us to involve the community’s children in this ceremony for a hospital that is being built to benefit all children in the West Houston area.”
Located on 55 acres at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Barker Cypress, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus is designed to incorporate the best practices in pediatric treatment environments and to provide the special accommodations that families need in a children’s medical facility. Staffed and equipped exclusively to treat patients from birth to 18 years of age, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus will provide both outpatient and inpatient services, and offer the only dedicated pediatric emergency center in greater West Houston. The medical campus will be built in phases, totaling 534,000 square feet. The outpatient clinic building and the inpatient facility are scheduled to open in 2010. For more information, visit
westcampus.texaschildrens.org.
Texas Children’s Hospital is among the largest pediatric hospitals in the country and is dedicated to serving children and families through excellence in patient care, education and research. The hospital’s new West Campus development is made possible in large part through the generous support of corporations and families in the local community who are committed to improving the health and well-being of its children.
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy
children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education
and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough
developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is
ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News &
World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s
largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices
throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has
embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which
includes a comprehensive neurological research institute, the
formation of a maternity center, and the development of the new West
Campus, Texas Children’s first pediatric hospital in a suburban
setting.
Back to top
First community children’s hospital in the greater Houston area will
be among nation’s largest
Houston, TX (May 15, 2008) – Texas Children’s Hospital broke
ground today on its new West Campus, the first community children’s
hospital to be built in the greater Houston area. When completed,
the new facility will be among the nation’s largest suburban
pediatric hospitals and will serve one of its fastest growing child
populations.
Located on 55 acres at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Barker
Cypress, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus is designed to
incorporate the best practices in pediatric treatment environments
and to provide the special accommodations that families need in a
children’s medical facility. Staffed and equipped to treat patients
from birth to 18 years of age, Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus
will provide both outpatient and inpatient services, and offer the
only dedicated pediatric emergency room in greater West Houston. The
medical complex, totaling 490,000 square feet, will be built in
phases at an estimated cost of $220 million. With the completion of
the outpatient clinic building and the inpatient facility in 2010,
West Campus will have an estimated workforce of 600-800 medical
professionals and support staff.
“Our new West Campus will provide families greater access to the
same unsurpassed standard of care for which Texas Children’s
Hospital is internationally recognized,” said Mark Wallace,
president and chief executive officer of Texas Children’s Hospital.
“As part of our Vision 2010 initiative, West Campus will serve as a
premier pediatric treatment facility and as a leading community
resource center for child wellness and healing.”
The new community pediatric hospital will serve one of the nation’s
fastest growing populations of children, the area from Sugar Land to
Bryan-College Station. The area’s pediatric population is projected
to grow by 51%, reaching 400,000 within five years of the hospital’s
opening.
Phase I of the West Campus construction is scheduled for completion
in spring/summer 2010 and features a 190,000-square-foot outpatient
clinic building with physician offices. The facility will offer 15
pediatric specialty services including audiology, cardiology,
endocrine/diabetes, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology,
neurology, occupational therapy, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery,
otolaryngology, pediatric surgery, physical therapy, pulmonary
medicine, speech therapy services and urology.
Phase II of the project, slated for completion in fall/winter 2010,
features a 280,000-square-foot inpatient facility with a pediatric
emergency room, surgical suites, 48 intermediate and acute-care
patient beds, advanced imaging services including MRI and CT scans,
and a neurophysiology sleep laboratory. In subsequent phases, 48
additional beds are planned.
Designed by the architecture firm of PageSoutherlandPage, the new
facility will incorporate interior and exterior evidence-based
design elements that promote healing such as natural light, views of
water and nature, child life play areas, and outdoor park-like
settings for patient and family use. The project is being designed
and constructed following Leadership in Energy & Environmental
Design (LEED) principles. The lead construction company for the
project is Tellepsen Builders.
"A pediatric hospital is vital for the growing population of
children in the West Houston community,” said Ralph D. Feigin, MD,
physician-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital. “In our 50-year
history, the new West Campus is our first hospital outside of the
Medical Center, and we are committed to providing the same level of
excellence in patient care and in recruiting and employing the very
best physicians, nurses and staff.”
The West Campus groundbreaking ceremony, held at 10 a.m. today, was
attended by Texas Children’s Hospital executives, board members and
major contributors. Speakers included Wallace, Dr. Feigin and Jim
Mulva, chairman and chief executive officer, ConocoPhillips.
Additional ceremony participants were Mr. David Wolff, chairman and
president, Wolff Companies; Mrs. David Wolff; Max P. Watson,
chairman of the board of trustees, Texas Children’s Hospital; Brad
Tucker, board president, Texas Children’s Hospital; Howard Tellepsen,
president and chief executive officer, Tellepsen Builders; Kurt
Neubek, associate principal, PageSoutherlandPage; and Texas
Children’s Hospital outpatients and area residents Miguel Machado,
Katherine Go, Nathaniel Go, Kendall Harvey and Andres Sarmiento.
A $3 million gift to Texas Children’s Hospital from ConocoPhillips
was announced at the ceremony, with $1.5 million of the funds
designated for the West Campus. Wallace also acknowledged another
major gift to the project, a 10-acre tract of site land valued at
$4.5 million that was donated by Mr. and Mrs. David Wolff.
Texas Children’s Hospital is among the largest pediatric hospitals
in the country and is dedicated to serving children and families
through excellence in patient care, education and research. The
hospital’s new West Campus development is made possible in large
part through the generous support of corporations and families in
the local community who are committed to improving the health and
well-being of its children.
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy
children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education
and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough
developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is
ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News &
World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s
largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices
throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has
embarked on a $1.5 billion expansion, Vision 2010, which
includes a comprehensive neurological research institute, the
formation of a maternity center, and the development of the new West
Campus, Texas Children’s first pediatric hospital in a suburban
setting.
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