Dirk and Jessica joined as special guests as Children’s Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center broke ground on Oct. 1 on a $5 billion pediatric health campus to replace the existing Children’s Medical Center Dallas. The new campus will encompass more than 4.7 million square feet of construction, including a new pediatric hospital as its centerpiece. The hospital, comprising two 12-story towers and one eight-story tower, along with the broader care site, will significantly expand inpatient, surgical, and ambulatory capacity to meet the needs of one of the fastest-growing and largest metropolitan areas in the country.

“For more than 110 years Children’s Health, together with our 60-year partners at UT Southwestern, have sought to provide the best care available to the families of North Texas. Today, as we prepare for the tremendous growth in the area’s pediatric population, through this new pediatric campus we are reaffirming our promise that every child in this community will have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, no matter the challenges they face,” said Christopher Durovich, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Health. “This new Dallas campus will be a beacon of hope and healing for our children today – and for generations to come.”

As North Texas experiences unprecedented growth, and with the pediatric population expected to double by 2050, there is an urgent demand for advanced pediatric health care. To meet those needs, Children’s Health and UT Southwestern announced plans for the new pediatric campus in February 2024. The project will expand access to a full range of pediatric services from routine care to complex treatments, creating a one-of-a-kind hub for academic research, training, and the development of lifesaving technologies.

“To be there at the groundbreaking and be a part of Children’s Health journey to become one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the nation was an amazing experience,” said Dirk. “Jessica and I were happy to be there to celebrate such a special place.”