The New Pediatric Campus represents a monumental collaboration between two of the biggest healthcare providers in Dallas: the public University of Texas Southwest system and Children’s Health. The new facility sited on a 34-acre previously-developed site brings over 550 new pediatric beds, a 90-room Level 1 emergency department, and world-class specialty clinics. Access to nature and biophilia weave across the campus to mitigate scale and enhance experience for patients, families, staff, and the wider community. The campus is planned for future growth and takes advantage of the natural topography and adjacent green spaces. Walking paths enhance pedestrian connectivity through the greater medical campus and connect to the Texas Trees Foundation’s adjacent Harry Hines linear park redevelopment. Several protected gardens allow for patient, staff, and family respite, and a central courtyard with monumental play features centers the entire hospital in indoor-outdoor experiences to support health outcomes.

Environmental challenges addressed include stormwater management, contaminated soils, urban heat island of the Medical District, on-structure gardens in Texas climatic extremes, and plant palettes designed with immunocompromised and sensitive patients in mind.