VCU Health Opens New Tower in Richmond
What happened
VCU Health's new tower in Richmond was recently featured as a significant investment in the region's healthcare infrastructure. The expansion is expected to increase access to medical services and may provide additional clinical placement opportunities for healthcare students.
Why it matters
- The new 16-story Children's Tower at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU opened on April 30, 2023, representing a $420 million investment. - This tower consolidates all pediatric inpatient, emergency, and trauma care into a single, dedicated facility. - The facility has 72 all-private acute and intensive care rooms, which are among the most spacious in the country. - In May 2025, VCU Health announced a planned expansion within the Children's Tower to add a 20-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which is expected to open in January 2026. - This new tower is part of a larger project that, when combined with the adjacent outpatient Children's Pavilion, creates a nearly 1 million-square-foot city block dedicated to pediatric care. - While the new tower focuses on pediatric care, VCU Health has an established certified nurse-midwife practice that collaborates with physicians and provides comprehensive prenatal care, 24/7 labor support, and postpartum care. - The VCU Health nurse-midwifery team has been recognized with the American College of Nurse-Midwives' "Triple Aim" Best Practice designation for their work in improving patient experience, reducing care costs, and improving population health. - There is also a planned future inpatient tower, separate from the Children's Tower, which is still in the early planning stages and will focus on high-acuity specialized care for adults.
Key numbers
- - The new 16-story Children's Tower at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU opened on April 30, 2023, representing a $420 million investment.
- The facility has 72 all-private acute and intensive care rooms, which are among the most spacious in the country.
- In May 2025, VCU Health announced a planned expansion within the Children's Tower to add a 20-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which is expected to open in January 2026.
- This new tower is part of a larger project that, when combined with the adjacent outpatient Children's Pavilion, creates a nearly 1 million-square-foot city block dedicated to pediatric care.
What happens next
- In May 2025, VCU Health announced a planned expansion within the Children's Tower to add a 20-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which is expected to open in January 2026.
- The VCU Health nurse-midwifery team has been recognized with the American College of Nurse-Midwives' "Triple Aim" Best Practice designation for their work in improving patient experience, reducing care costs, and improving population health.
- There is also a planned future inpatient tower, separate from the Children's Tower, which is still in the early planning stages and will focus on high-acuity specialized care for adults.
Quick answers
What happened in VCU Health Opens New Tower in Richmond?
VCU Health's new tower in Richmond was recently featured as a significant investment in the region's healthcare infrastructure. The expansion is expected to increase access to medical services and may provide additional clinical placement opportunities for healthcare students.
Why does VCU Health Opens New Tower in Richmond matter?
The new 16-story Children's Tower at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU opened on April 30, 2023, representing a $420 million investment. This tower consolidates all pediatric inpatient, emergency, and trauma care into a single, dedicated facility. The facility has 72 all-private acute and intensive care rooms, which are among the most spacious in the country. In May 2025, VCU Health announced a planned expansion within the Children's Tower to add a 20-bed neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which is expected to open in January 2026. This new tower is part of a larger project that, when combined with the adjacent outpatient Children's Pavilion, creates a nearly 1 million-square-foot city block dedicated to pediatric care. While the new tower focuses on pediatric care, VCU Health has an established certified nurse-midwife practice that collaborates with physicians and provides comprehensive prenatal care, 24/7 labor support, and postpartum care. The VCU Health nurse-midwifery team has been recognized with the American College of Nurse-Midwives' "Triple Aim" Best Practice designation for their work in improving patient experience, reducing care costs, and improving population health. There is also a planned future inpatient tower, separate from the Children's Tower, which is still in the early planning stages and will focus on high-acuity specialized care for adults.