Richmond-based Virginia Commonwealth University Health System plans to break ground on its 16-story inpatient children's hospital June 8, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The 500,000-square-foot hospital is estimated to cost $420 million, including $345 million in direct construction costs, $35 million for equipment, $25 million for engineering work and $15 million for site preparation.
In addition to patient care areas, the building will include four levels of below-ground parking, outdoor garden areas and child playrooms. The internal design is still in the works.
The new inpatient hospital will connect to the current Children's Pavilion, which houses surgery and the pediatric emergency department.
The decision to break ground on the children's hospital comes after years of false starts. According to the news report, VCU Health System announced plans in 2005 and 2013 to build a children's hospital, but backed away both times.
Read the full report here.