In its continuing mission to provide high-quality pediatric care for children in the Mahoning Valley, Akron Children’s Hospital/Boardman will open a new two-story addition for patients on July 11.
      The $20-million construction project adds more than 51,000 square feet to the current Beeghly campus.
      “We’re committed to ensuring that children in the Valley receive the care they need, close to home, and this expansion helps us further fulfill that promise,” said Bill Considine, Akron Children’s president and CEO. “It’s a promise that began in 2002 when we opened the Heart Center and then the Beeghly campus six years later. We’re invested in our communities and the expansion represents another significant step toward offering patient families the quality pediatric care they’ve come to expect from Akron Children’s.”
      The new addition includes 47 exam rooms, including subspecialty and primary care, plus several support testing rooms.
      The expansion enables the hospital to relocate services to the Beeghly campus, making it convenient for patient families to receive care. These services include allergy, cardiology, genetics, neonatology, nephrology, neurology, orthopedics, physiatry, plastic and reconstructive surgery, pulmonology, sports medicine, and urology, along with an additional innovative space for sports rehabilitation. Akron Children’s Hospital Pediatrics/Boardman will also move into the new addition.
      The building includes elements both children and parents will appreciate. The glassed-in entryway includes a whimsical, 3D sculpture called The Dreaming Tree. The 2-story sculpture was designed by Adam May from Hasenstab Architects and Tony Nicholas from Artists of the Rust Belt, in conjunction with Freshmade 3D. The sculpture quite literally brings the building’s theme, “Reconnecting with Nature,” to life. Large photography pieces of Mill Creek MetroParks are located throughout the building, intermixed with 25 photography pieces from Akron Children’s employees and 150 pieces of original artwork from local school children.
      A colorful ball machine, beloved by kids of all ages in Akron Children’s Hospital’s Akron location, makes an appearance within the expansion as well, offering a playful reprieve for patient families visiting the space.
      “We had several goals with this project, including enhancing access to services for patient families, increasing our primary care capacity, relocating our specialty services from the Boardman Medical Pavilion to our Beeghly campus, and consolidating our clinics to one location,” said Sharon Hrina, vice president, Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley. “We’re honored to be able to serve families here in the Mahoning Valley, and this expansion helps us do that even more effectively.”
      The project was funded through the hospital’s capital budget and philanthropic support from the local community.
      As part of the Vision for Our Valley’s Children Campaign, donors have created a legacy of caring for the area’s children through their contributions. These efforts are recognized on a donor wall that includes interactive features acknowledging those who’ve supported the hospital.
      Additionally, 42 donors representing gifts of $3.7 million towards the Vision for Our Valley’s Children Campaign are recognized with naming opportunities in the new building, including gifts of $50,000 or more. from the following donors:
       •John S. and Doris M. Andrews Foundation
       •Bruce and Nancy Beeghly
       •Ward Beecher and Florence Simon Beecher Foundation
       •Boardman Subaru/Fellman Family
       •John D. Finnegan Foundation
       •Frank and Pearl Gelbman Foundation
       •Jane F. Lamb Charitable Foundation
       •Estate of Carolyn R. Maresky
       •William and Kathryn Challiss Pollock Personal Foundation
       •Reid and Judy Schmutz
       •Estate of Irene J. Slabodi
       •Sweeney Chevrolet Buick GMC
       •Woman’s Board of Youngstown
       •Youngstown Foundation