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VCU Children’s Pavilion opens

3/11/2016, 12:12 p.m.
It’s being described as the biggest development in child health care in Central Virginia. After more than five years of …
A new landmark in Downtown, VCU’s Children’s Pavilion fills the block at 10th and Broad streets. Photo by Sandra Sellars

It’s being described as the biggest development in child health care in Central Virginia.

After more than five years of planning and construction, the new $200 million Children’s Pavilion outpatient treatment center was celebrated with fanfare Wednesday, just days before its planned opening to patients and families on Monday, March 21.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe joined in the festive ribbon-cutting for the new Downtown addition to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, third from left, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony Wednesday. Joining him, from left, Leslie Wyatt, executive director of the Children’s Hospital; VCU President Michael Rao; John DuVal, CEO of VCU Health Systems; Brianna Burke and her mother, Nicole Hauser; and Maggie Raph holding her son, Carter.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe, third from left, cuts the ribbon at the grand opening ceremony Wednesday. Joining him, from left, Leslie Wyatt, executive director of the Children’s Hospital; VCU President Michael Rao; John DuVal, CEO of VCU Health Systems; Brianna Burke and her mother, Nicole Hauser; and Maggie Raph holding her son, Carter.

The governor lauded the massive 15-story building at 10th and Broad streets neighboring City Hall as “a milestone in advancing children’s health care and meeting the growing need for coordinated outpatient services,” that represent 90 percent of pediatric care.

The new building combines space for clinical services, research and teaching. VCU President Michael Rao said the offerings will make “a profound difference in the lives of children and their families.”

Wall art exemplifies the child-friendly approach of the new pavilion that will welcome the first patients and families on Monday, March 21.

Wall art exemplifies the child-friendly approach of the new pavilion that will welcome the first patients and families on Monday, March 21.

Inside, an array of services, ranging from radiology and orthopedics, to same-day surgery, lab testing and dialysis, will be available in a child-friendly environment. Amenities include parking, a curb-free drop-off area for those in strollers and wheelchairs; a Ronald McDonald House Sibling Center, a Sky Terrace and interactive displays.

According to officials, this is just the first step in improving services offered through the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Tomeka Anderson in an operating room in the new outpatient treatment center. Same-day surgeries will be among the offerings.

Tomeka Anderson in an operating room in the new outpatient treatment center. Same-day surgeries will be among the offerings.

Behind the scenes, VCU continues planning for new facilities on the medical campus, including development of a hospital for inpatient children’s care, according to VCU spokeswoman Pamela D. Lepley.