Intermountain Health is taking a revolutionary healthcare innovation in Southern Nevada to the next level—the state’s first freestanding comprehensive children’s hospital—by selecting The PENTA Building Group and Jacobsen Construction as construction partners. This achievement brings a major step closer to delivering a revolutionary facility dedicated entirely to children’s care.
Estimated at $1 billion, the hospital will be built in the UNLV Research and Technology Park. With construction breaking ground in early 2026 and completing by 2030. The 200-bed hospital, once up and running, will be the first of its kind in Nevada, offering state-of-the-art, specialty-based care for children in areas like oncology and cardiovascular medicine—care that many families currently must go out of state to access.
Construction Partnership Offers Local Roots and National Expertise
The joint selection of PENTA and Jacobsen illustrates a strategic approach that unites deep local expertise with nationally recognized healthcare construction experience. PENTA, based in Las Vegas, offers long-term experience in constructing large-scale projects in Nevada. While Jacobsen has experience working with Intermountain Health, including recent completion of Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, Utah.
“It was critical for us in contractor selection to incorporate creativity and craftsmanship as well as the aspect of homegrown Nevada relationships,” stated Lawrence Barnard, president of the Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital. “The Nevada Children’s Hospital is going to be state-of-the-art, welcoming families close and far with the compassionate care for which Intermountain is known.”
John Cannito, PENTA’s President and CEO, highlighted the in-region effect of the project: “This is not merely another building project—it’s an opportunity to assist in creating something genuinely significant for Southern Nevada families and children.”
The Jacobsen Construction team will be headed by Vice President Blake Court, whose close to twenty years of working with Intermountain Health guarantee consistency and extensive institutional know-how. The project was referred to as “a once-in-a-generation opportunity” by CEO Gary Ellis.
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Design Underway
Shepley Bulfinch and Gensler architectural firms began designing last spring, laying the groundwork for a world-class children’s center. Intermountain Health, The Gardner Group, and the UNLV Research Foundation finalized agreements to buy land for the project at UNLV Research and Technology Park last week.
The hospital will generate significant economic benefits for the state. An independent study by Applied Analysis predicts construction will create $724 million in economic impact over five years. Once operational, the facility will contribute $841 million annually to the state economy.
As Intermountain continues forward with planning and fund-raising, the project is gaining momentum both as a healthcare breakthrough and a community-supported investment in Nevada’s future.
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Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital Project Factsheet
Project Overview
Developer: Intermountain Health
Investment: $1 billion
Location: UNLV Research and Technology Park
Capacity: 200 beds
Timeline: Groundbreaking early 2026, completion 2030
Key Features
Nevada’s first stand-alone comprehensive children’s hospital
Specialized pediatric services: oncology, cardiovascular medicine
Eliminates need for families to leave state for care
Intermountain Health Nevada Children’s Hospital Construction Partners
The PENTA Building Group
Jacobsen Construction
Design Team
Shepley Bulfinch and Gensler
Economic Impact
Construction: $724 million over 5 years
Operations: $841 million annually
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