Sent on behalf of Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
At any given time, dozens of construction projects are taking place throughout the St. Louis Children’s Hospital and campus—some you see, many you don’t. Renovations, upgrades and new construction are needed to accommodate new technology, enable departments to operate more efficiently, and, most importantly, create the most comfortable environment possible for patients and their families.
BJC Planning, Design & Construction coordinates closely with executive leaders and the leaders of affected areas to minimize disruptions and ensure transitions and interim relocations are as seamless as possible. Some larger projects underway or getting started this year at SLCH are outlined below.
Shared Work Spaces and New 4400 Inpatient Unit
SLCH needs additional beds. Renovation of the 4th floor will add 16 ICU-capable beds by late 2026. To get there, those currently in this space will need to relocate. Shared workspaces are being constructed on the 1st and 2nd floors to relocate those currently in the project area.
Work is wrapping up on the Shared Work Spaces on the 1st and 2nd floors. Departments remaining in 4400 and 6100 will be relocated between May 27 and June 6. The contractors are setting up infection prevention barriers and starting demolition on the 4th floor as suites are vacated. The new 4400 16-bed inpatient acute unit will be activated in Q4 2026.
Admitting/Outpatient Pharmacy
As a precursor to renovations to the emergency department slated to begin late this year, admitting and the outpatient pharmacy will be relocated to the former Eye Center space on the 2nd floor. The shared waiting area will feature two fish tanks, and there will be a shared staff lounge for the departments. These departments are expected to open in October 2025.
Admitting Department Relocation:
The department will be relocated from the 1st to the 2nd floor, which will improve department visibility and patient flow. The 2nd floor serves as the formal entrance to the hospital and will enable more than 100 patients per day to be registered and guided to their ultimate destination in a more streamlined fashion. The new admitting space will have three check-in desks and one check-in kiosk.
Outpatient Pharmacy Relocation:
Currently, patients and their families go to the 1st floor to get prescriptions filled and then return to the 2nd floor to access the bridge to the garage. The relocation to the current 2nd-floor Eye Center space will enable families to conveniently visit the outpatient pharmacy on the same floor as the bridge to the visitor garage. There will be three pharmacy pick-up windows for family convenience.
Emergency Unit Renovations
The Emergency Unit (EU) is the front door of St. Louis Children’s Hospital, where first impressions are made for patients and families. The EU was last renovated in 1999, and since then, hundreds of thousands of patients have sought treatment in the existing space. Serving these families over the last 25 years has created significant wear on the space. A remodeled and reimagined EU is essential to adapting to the ever-evolving landscape of health care and maximizing efficiency in the delivery of care. Once admitting and outpatient pharmacies are relocated, the vacated space will allow for EU renovations to begin. This construction will establish a new entry, waiting area, canopy, security desk, and triage space. In addition, the renovations will accommodate increased volumes.
More information about EU renovations, timeline, and impact will be shared later this year.