Our Lady of the Lake has released new renderings and details about its long-planned Children’s Hospital, which will be located on a 60-acre tract of hospital-owned property that runs parallel to
Interstate 10 between Essen Lane and Bluebonnet Boulevard.
In a statement released this morning, the hospital says it is getting ready to submit plans to the East Baton Rouge Parish Planning Commission that will detail the proposed project, which could break ground by December. As currently envisioned, the Children’s Hospital will include inpatient beds, an emergency room, surgical unit and a dedicated hematology/oncology unit that will be affiliated with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. Plans also include development of a connected medical office building.
Details about the square footage of the proposed buildings are not yet available. Preliminary estimates, however, suggest the total project cost will be around $200 million. Fundraising is already under way.
Plans for a freestanding Children’s Hospital at OLOL have been in the works for several years. OLOL acquired the site for the proposed facility in 2008. It is an undeveloped parcel near I-10 behind the Jacobs Engineering Building.
Construction on the hospital is expected to take two years. the facility will greatly expand OLOL’s ability to care for pediatric patients. The existing Children’s Hospital, located within the hospital’s main building on Essen Lane, is just one floor of the main tower. It treats 100,000 patients annually from across Louisiana Mississippi and Texas.
Still waiting on word regarding the Louisiana Children's Hospital in the works being built with donations by
Shaq in partnership with OLOL.