Children’s Mercy to Build New Acute Care Tower at Adele Hall Campus

Early plans call for a new home for the PICU and NICU and an expansion of the Emergency Department to increase patient capacity and support complex pediatric needs. | Photo Credit: Children’s Mercy, HDR

• Children’s Mercy unveiled plans for a new acute patient tower at its flagship Adele Hall campus in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.  
• The health system said third-party assessments project existing capacity could meet only 67% of total bed needs and 40% of NICU demand within five years.  
• Children’s Mercy estimates the project will cost more than $1 billion and expand total capacity by 25% to 30%.  
• Early design plans include relocating the PICU and NICU into the new tower, expanding the Emergency Department, and adding a surgical center with robotics.  
• Enabling work is expected to begin this fall, with a goal of completing the project in 2031.  

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Children’s Mercy is planning a new acute care tower at its Adele Hall campus in downtown Kansas City, Mo., citing rising demand for highly specialized pediatric care and tightening pediatric capacity at general hospitals.  

In a statement, the health system said the project — estimated to cost more than $1 billion — would add 25% to 30% in overall capacity and reposition key high-acuity services, including intensive care and emergency care, into spaces designed for future growth and technology integration.  

Children’s Mercy serves children across a multi-state region and nationwide, and high-acuity areas such as the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Emergency Department consistently care for some of the region’s most medically complex patients.  

The hospital cited third-party assessments by Deloitte and HDR that warned capacity constraints could worsen over the next five years, with existing space meeting only 67% of projected total bed needs and 40% of projected NICU demand.  

“Demand is already pressing our capacity, so this is about readiness and responsibility. When a child in our community needs an ICU bed, and minutes matter, we must have the space and the very best teams ready to act,” said Alejandro Quiroga, MD, MBA, President and CEO of Children’s Mercy, in a statement. 

The tower is intended to support more flexible care environments and next-generation technology. Early plans call for a new home for the PICU and NICU and an expansion of the Emergency Department to increase patient capacity and support complex pediatric needs. The tower is also expected to include a surgical center with future-ready technology, including robotics; improved clinical flow and proximity of services to support collaboration; and more natural light, green space and comfort-focused areas for patients and families.  

In addition, Children’s Mercy said the project would include space designed to translate research into real-world treatments and cures, as well as a new lobby with dedicated areas to support patients, families and staff.  

“This moment reflects real momentum and a clear choice to honor our legacy by building what kids need next,” Quiroga said. 

Diane Gallagher, chair of the Children’s Mercy Board of Directors, framed the expansion as a capacity and workforce need for pediatric care. “This new tower is being built because of the urgent need we have for more pediatric beds in the region and for our care teams to push what’s possible in pediatric medicine,” she said, according an article from Children’s Mercy Newsroom. 

Children’s Mercy said the project will be supported by private-public investments built on community philanthropy and long-standing collaboration. Enabling work is expected to begin this fall, and the health system set a goal of completing the tower in 2031. 

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The post Children’s Mercy to Build New Acute Care Tower at Adele Hall Campus appeared first on HCO News.

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