Hartford, CT - May 1, 2025 - Connecticut Children's, the state’s only health system 100% dedicated to kids, celebrated a significant milestone today with a steel topping off ceremony for its new 8-story patient tower. The event marked a pivotal moment in the organization's growth and expansion efforts, solidifying its commitment to delivering exceptional care to pediatric patients and their families across Connecticut and the nation.
The ceremony, held in the courtyard of J Restaurant and Bar on Washington St., brought together Connecticut Children's leaders, local dignitaries including Hartford Mayor, and state commissioners, patient families, and team members for a celebratory event.
The new patient tower represents a significant investment in pediatric healthcare, offering expanded services such as Fetal Care medicine, an advanced cellular gene therapy unit, and 50 new private NICU rooms. The addition of these state-of-the-art facilities will enable Connecticut Children's to serve more patient families than ever before and provide them with the highest quality care possible.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the placement of three signed steel beams by team members and patient families, symbolizing their collective dedication to the mission of Connecticut Children's. These beams will be prominently displayed in the penthouse suite once the tower is completed in late 2025, serving as a reminder of the community's unwavering support and commitment to children's health.
"We are thrilled to reach this important milestone in our journey to transform children's healthcare and well-being," said Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, Connecticut Children’s President and CEO. "The steel topping off ceremony represents a significant step forward in our mission to provide compassionate, innovative care to pediatric patients across Connecticut and beyond."
Connecticut Children's extends its gratitude to all those who attended the ceremony and contributed to the success of this momentous occasion. As the organization looks ahead to the completion of the new patient tower in late 2025, it remains steadfast in its commitment to serving as a beacon of hope and healing for children and families in need.
For more information about Connecticut Children's and its expansion efforts, please visit the Tower and Expansion webpage.
For media inquiries, please contact: Monica Buchanan, Sr Dir Enterprise Communications, 352.219.0860, or mbuchanan [at] connecticutchildrens.org.
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About Connecticut Children’s
Connecticut Children’s is the only health system in Connecticut 100% dedicated to kids. That means high-quality care across more than 30 pediatric specialties in 40+ locations throughout Connecticut, Eastern New York and Western Massachusetts. One team on a mission to improve access to healthcare from before birth and into adulthood. One team pushing the limits with breakthrough research and community partnerships so we can help you focus on what matters most: your family’s wellness journey. When you choose Connecticut Children’s, you can expect care Beyond Imagination.