The Hero’s Journey Begins: Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach Breaks Ground on $151 Million Expansion

125,000 Square Foot Inpatient Tower Needed to Meet Growing Community Need

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Nov. 9, 2005 – Miller Children’s Hospital today broke ground on a $151 million expansion that is necessary for the hospital to meet the growing need for pediatric services in the community. When completed in 2008, the four-level building will include seven operating rooms, a pediatric imaging center, 48 neonatal intensive care beds and 24 general pediatrics bed in 125,000 square feet of space.

The new inpatient building will be a modern-day castle whose inspiration was drawn from classic stories of the hero, who overcomes many obstacles and often finds refuge in a castle before triumphing over the enemy. Many parallels can be made between the heroes in these stories and hospitalized children; the hospital is often a place of refuge where children go to triumph over their disease or condition.

“The new building will provide a healing environment where our brave heroes – our patients and their families – can find refuge as they overcome challenges on their journey from illness to health,” explained Mel Marks, MD, chief administrative officer of Miller Children’s Hospital.

“Everybody is a hero if they just believe in themselves,” said Ryan, 13, co-emcee of the groundbreaking and a patient at Miller Children’s Hospital for more than 10 years.

Since the Miller Children’s Hospital expansion won’t be sitting on virgin soil, the groundbreaking ceremony left the traditional gold shovel behind. In its place, a small portion of the parking garage, which stands on the site where the new building will be located, was chipped away. In a matter of weeks, the parking structure will be demolished to make room for the expansion. Patients and families, elected officials and hospital representatives posed with construction equipment and jack hammers to commemorate the day.

Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach has been providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services for children of all ages, from newborns to young adults for more than 35 years. Miller Children's Hospital is one of only two children's hospitals in Los Angeles County and is home to one of the largest neonatal intensive care units in California, treating more than 50 high-risk infants daily. Along with all pediatric subspecialties being represented, Miller Children's Hospital also offers a Child Life program, which uses teaching, communication and therapeutic play to lessen children's anxieties about being in the hospital.

Media Contact:
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Project Fact Sheet

Scope of Project     The new 4-story (one level below ground, three levels above ground) building will contain approximately 120,000 square feet, located on the Atlantic Avenue side of the campus.     The site for the new building currently contains a 2-story parking structure, the Atlantic Avenue entrance to the campus and a portion of the visitor parking lot.     The project will include a state-of-the-art pediatric imaging center and the region's only pediatric surgery center.     The new facility will add new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds—bringing the total number of NICU beds to 96. This would make Miller Children's NICU among the largest in the state.     The new facility will add 24 new general pediatric beds with private rooms.     The expansion is being financed by hospital operations, philanthropy and Proposition 61 funds.     Newport Beach-based TAYLOR is the architectural firm designing the building, which is being constructed by Los Angeles-based Turner Healthcare.             Project Timeline     Project submitted to Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) April 27, 2005. Approval expected in 6-12 months.     Environmental Impact Report (EIR) complete, having received Long Beach City Council unanimous approval June 7, 2005.     Groundbreaking held November 9, 2005.     Completion scheduled for early 2008.     Development and selection of interior designs, interior finishes, and equipment selection continues.