The University of Kansas Hospital today broke ground for a $280 million, seven-story building, the Cambridge North tower, at 39th and Cambridge Street, just northeast of the existing hospital buildings.
The 92-bed, 12 operating room facility in Kansas City, Kan., will house two of the fastest growing specialty areas at the hospital: neurosciences and surgical oncology, including ear, nose and throat cancers, officials said.
The 92 beds will include 28 intensive care beds, according to a spokesman. The facility will also include imaging, lab and pharmacy.
“Welcome to the future of The University of Kansas Hospital,” said Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Hospital, in remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We have seen an increase in demand for our outstanding clinical services. We have had a full hospital with record patient demand for the last three months. It has meant we are using all our creativity to provide patients with the high quality services they are seeking. It also means we need the beds and operating rooms Cambridge North will provide to meet patient demand,” added Page said.
Page said The University of Kansas Hospital has seen patient volume grow 30 percent in the last five years. Its fastest growing services – neurosciences and surgical oncology – have grown nearly 40 percent over that period.
As announced in 2014, the project’s goal is to raise $100 million through philanthropy. The effort has raised $36.6 million. That includes a $10 million dollar challenge grant from philanthropist Annette Bloch. The hospital reports it has raised nearly $4 million toward the challenge.
“We are doing much more than constructing a new building. We are building this hospital as we put Kansas City on the national medical map. Great cities have great academic hospitals. If we want Kansas City to be a top ten city, we need this hospital, The University of Kansas Hospital…Kansas City’s great academic hospital…to be a top 10 hospital,” said Greg Graves, chairman and CEO of Burns and McDonnell. Graves and his wife Deanna are leading the fund raising effort for Cambridge North.
The hospital receives no state or local tax appropriations since it became an independent state authority in 1998.
The $280 million seven-story project is designed by Canon Design and J.E. Dunn Construction is the general contractor. Plans call for the building to start accepting patients in 2017.
To see a KU Hospital video about this expansion, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY8G7Mgtkew.
Information and photos from KU Hospital
