When KU Hospitalstarted their new Cambridge North project they knew it was going to be an asset. However, nearly two years later, they've added more levels and are in need of more public donations than ever.
"We added four additional patient floors. So we're building eleven stories instead of seven," said John McDonough, VP of facility services and development at KU Hospital.
The high rise being built at Cambridge and 39th is 13 floors (11 specifically for patients), 11 operating rooms and 220 beds the hospital says they desperately need.
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"The demand for services in the existing hospital is such that we really need these additional beds," said McDonough.
The project will take $370 million to complete. A hundred million dollars is being raised through public donations in what the hospital says is their first capital campaign.
"We are a public authority so we don't receive state funding. So we're a very new fundraising program," said Janice Benjamin, VP of development at KU Hospital."
KU has already raised $45 million towards their $100 million goal. Benjamin said the money is for the building's innovative equipment and technology that will help save the lives of the most critically ill.
"People who need innovative treatments for cancer, for neurology, neurosurgery, head-neck procedures," said Benjamin.
Also included will be an Intraoperative MRI suite for neurosurgery, a setup which will allow doctors to utilize an MRI machine next to the operating room during brain surgery.
"It’s the future of our campus. It's the future of our hospital," said Benjamin.
The first seven floors will be ready for patients by Fall of 2017. The remaining floors will be done Fall of 2018. The 2,200 space parking garage next door will be the largest in Kansas.
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Josh Helmuth can be reached at josh.helmuth@kshb.com
