Progress on construction of Arkansas Children's Northwest can be tracked via webcam set up by Nabholz Construction. This is a shot from Feb. 1, 2017.
The Arkansas Children’s Northwest hospital is less than a year away from opening, and its chief administrator says construction remains on schedule, in part due to mild winter weather.
Trisha Montague told Arkansas Business this week that crews are moving “quickly and aggressively” so the 234,000-SF hospital will be open during the January 2018 flu season, “a time when children need emergency and clinical care most.”
“Arkansas Children’s Northwest reflects 10 years of planning, including market research and community input,” Montague said. “We’re fortunate that transformational philanthropy has allowed us to map out an aggressive timeline to ensure the needs of our community are met swiftly.”
Montague said Children’s has raised $58.3 million so far for construction and operation of the hospital. Donations have come from the region’s biggest companies — Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville, Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale, J.B. Hunt Transport Services of Lowell — and individual families who have benefitted from the hospital’s services.
Children’s announced the new hospital in August 2015. The project was designed by Polk Stanley Wilcox of Fayetteville and Little Rock and FKP of Houston. Now, a team of about 250 workers from Nabholz Construction Corp. of Conway are working toward a January 2018 opening date. Viewers can track the project’s progress via webcam.
The hospital’s $98 million price tag was enough to put it at No. 2 on Arkansas Business’ annual list of the state’s largest commercial construction projects, released in December.
“We didn’t realize there was so much demand in northwest Arkansas for the services ACH provides,” Nabholz CEO Greg Williams said in December. “It’s neat to be a part of the project. We’ve been a big supporter of ACH and what they do.”
The hospital will sit on 37 acres near Interstate 49 and across from the Arvest Ballpark, the home field for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Gary and Robin George, and Gary George’s sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and David Evans, donated the 37 acres for the hospital. Gary George is the chairman of the poultry company, George’s Inc. of Springdale.
Plans include 233,613 SF of inpatient beds, emergency care, diagnostic services and clinical space. The campus will also have nature trails and gardens for patients and their families, as well as a helipad and refueling station for the Angel One transport team.
After closing in the new hospital’s exterior, Nabholz plans to tackle drywalling, plumbing, electrical, heating and ventilation, Montague says.
Officials expect the hospital to create 270 new jobs. Children’s is already seeking employees, including medical specialists.
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