The opening of CHoR’s 16-story Children’s Tower 3 years ago was the beginning of great things. Since then, our team has cared for kids in record numbers, while spaces and services continue to grow.
Three-year-old developmental milestones include jumping forward, balancing on one foot and riding a tricycle. This refers to humans, of course, but as our Children’s Tower marks its third birthday, the milestones look strikingly similar.
Since the completely kid-focused facility opened on April 30, 2023, the Children’s Tower has grown by leaps and bounds, and provided a place of safety and balance for families facing health hurdles. The community’s home for pediatric inpatient, emergency and trauma care continues to roll ahead with big plans for the future.
In 2025 alone, thousands of families received the care their kids needed in the Children’s Tower. This care came in the form of more than 10,000 inpatient (acute and intensive care) admissions and 29,000 emergency room visits. Nearly 700 patients were cared for in our Level 1 pediatric trauma center – the only one in the region. Many of these families came from other states, and some even crossed continents, because the best care for their kids was right here in the Children’s Tower at CHoR.
Marking milestones in pediatric medical care at CHoR
In the last year we welcomed our first neonatal intensive care patients in the Children’s Tower when the 20-bed NICU opened on January 31. Some of the smallest preemies are born with a common congenital heart defect called patent ductus arteriosus, which can be repaired without leaving their rooms thanks to a portable mini C-Arm imaging system that supports x-ray guided procedures at the bedside.
The Children’s Tower also accommodates robotic and other innovative procedures, such as vertebral body tethering for scoliosis and implantation of the region’s first leadless pacemaker in a child.
Children’s Tower expansions in store for 2026
Our Children’s Tower isn’t done growing. It was built with space to evolve along with our community. This fall, level 11 will open with 24 additional acute care beds on the otter-themed unit, which mirrors levels 10 and 12. As more families are turning to CHoR for specialty care, surgeries, clinical research studies and emergency room visits that require inpatient admissions, this expansion will help ensure our teams can provide the care these children need.
We also understand that caring for kids and families involves more than medicine. Our Family Resource Center, a program that connects families with essential resources to support their children’s health and wellbeing, is set to expand to a larger space in the Children’s Tower later this year too. The center’s dedicated team will use this space and the resources within it to help address food, transportation and other needs to set families up for success.
“The Children’s Tower coming to fruition felt like a dream come true for our team and our community, but we weren’t content to stop there,” said Elias Neujahr, CHoR president. “We’re always assessing how we can serve kids and families even better. As we celebrate the tower’s third birthday, we’re proud of where we are, excited for what’s on the horizon and thrilled with the anticipation of what’s to come in the years ahead.”
Unstoppable care for kids, made possible with your support
Generous community investment through Children’s Hospital Foundation fueled construction of the Children’s Tower, and the opportunities to make an impact don't stop there. Philanthropic partnership supports the capital growth behind expansions like the new NICU, the upcoming acute care unit and the growing Family Resource Center, while also building the teams, programs and specialized expertise that power every breakthrough and bedside moment. Together, these investments ensure unstoppable care for kids and make birthdays possible for years to come.