At Texas Children’s Hospital, we take very seriously our promise to always provide the very best care for all who come to us for help. The 640,000-square-foot expansion of Legacy Tower at our Texas Medical Center campus was designed to help us continue keeping that promise.
Five years ago, we knew we needed more space to serve our most critically ill patients and families. An increase in the number of patients, combined with the increasing size, number and complexity of medical equipment needed to treat those patients, meant we had outgrown the facilities that had served us so well over the years. Our Board of Trustees promptly approved plans for construction of Legacy Tower, and donations to our Promise Campaign helped us turn the plan into reality. Following simulation training in the new facilities, Phase I was completed on May 22 and Phase II was completed on September 25.
The tower enables us to expand and enhance our critical, surgical and cardiac care services. It will be the new home of Texas Children’s Heart Center® — ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in cardiology and heart surgery. The expansion comprises:
- 8 floors
- 48 cardiovascular ICU beds
- 42 cardiac acute-care beds
- 27 Heart Center exam rooms
- 25 operating rooms, including 4 cardiovascular ORs
- 4 cardiac catheterization labs, including an intraoperative MRI scanner
- 1 neuro ICU
- 1 surgical ICU
- 1 radiology suite
- A dedicated space for families
- A helipad that will allow even greater access to Texas Children’s for the most critically ill patients
- A golden retriever named Bailey, sporting a green vest and a Texas Children’s badge with bow attached, who absolutely loves her job with the Pawsitive Play animal-assisted therapy program