Bethany Children's Health Center unveils $178 million outpatient wing
The 200,000-square-foot expansion opens May 29 to cut wait times and includes a new community conference center and a caterpillar mascot.
By Jabari Long ·
Bethany Children's Health Center will open its new outpatient complex on May 29. The facility is scheduled to debut just before the city hosts its Route 66 centennial celebration on Nov. 7, linking the hospital's growth to the historic corridor's anniversary.
The project spans roughly 200,000 square feet with an estimated cost of $178 million. Leadership announced the expansion as part of a strategy to relieve pressure on specialty care appointments that previously involved months-long waits. The new capacity complements recent increases in inpatient beds.
Nico Gomez, the center's chief executive officer, stated that the design aims to provide calm and confidence for parents dealing with complex diagnoses. The new wing is named the Landmark of Hope, a title selected to reflect the organization's 128-year history of serving families.
The complex includes expanded specialty clinics intended to reduce appointment backlogs for pediatric subspecialties. It also features the Anne Noble Brown Conference Center, a space designated for public meetings and programming. This addition allows the facility to function as a civic gathering spot, not just a medical site.
Distinctive architectural elements include a chapel modeled after a chrysalis and a lobby installation called the Kaleidoscope of Butterflies. The organization also introduced a new mascot, Cal the Caterpillar, a roadside-style figure designed to serve as a community landmark and symbol of transformation.
Officials will offer the public a preview of the space during the Nov. 7 centennial events. Open-house style tours are planned for the afternoon, allowing visitors to view portions of the project before the full spring opening. Downtown events, university programs, and church-hosted activities will run throughout that day.
Hospital leaders said they will post further details on the health center's website as the opening date approaches. These updates will include programming schedules for the conference center and information on public tours. The expansion is expected to improve continuity of care for children with complex medical needs across the region.
