UNC Health and Duke Health have partnered to establish the Carolinas’ first freestanding, independent children’s hospital, setting a new benchmark for pediatric care in the region. Planned for Apex, North Carolina, the facility will serve as the anchor of a vast healthcare and innovation campus within the 1,200-acre Veridea mixed-use development, located near the Interstate 540 and U.S. 1 interchange.
A Visionary Project
The NC Children’s Hospital is projected to cost around $2 billion and span 230 acres of state pension fund-owned land. At the heart of the campus will be a 500-bed pediatric hospital covering 1.6 million square feet, supported by a central utility plant to ensure continuous, around-the-clock operations.
“This campus will create a brighter, healthier future for generations of children and adolescents across North Carolina and the Southeast,” said UNC Health CEO Dr. Wesley Burks when the project was announced. “We’re thrilled to have Apex as our home and partner.”
A Comprehensive Campus for Care, Research, and Education
The hospital will be complemented by specialized facilities designed to meet a wide spectrum of pediatric needs. Key components of the campus include:
Behavioral health hospital – a 70-bed, 200,000-square-foot inpatient facility.
Medical office building – 350,000 square feet dedicated to outpatient clinics, specialty services, and an ambulatory surgical center.
Administrative offices – 200,000 square feet for operational support.
Research and education center – developed in collaboration with the medical schools of Duke University and the University of North Carolina.
Together, these facilities will create an integrated network where research, education, and clinical care intersect to advance pediatric medicine.
Economic and Regional Impact
Beyond healthcare, the project is expected to deliver significant economic benefits. Estimates suggest up to 8,000 jobs will be created in Apex and across Wake County. The children’s hospital will also be part of RXR’s larger Veridea development, which envisions 8,000 new homes, 3.5 million square feet of retail and dining space, 12 million square feet of office and research space, and a new Wake Tech Community College campus.
A Public-Private Model
Funding will come primarily from UNC Health and Duke Health, with additional public support anticipated as part of North Carolina’s budget process. The partnership exemplifies a new model of healthcare development that blends institutional, private, and state resources to build infrastructure with lasting public value.
Shaping the Future of Pediatric Care
When completed, NC Children’s will stand as a nationally recognized hub for pediatric healthcare, education, and innovation. As the first independent children’s hospital in the Carolinas, it represents both a historic milestone and a long-term investment in the health and well-being of future generations.
Similar investments are emerging nationwide— in Oakland, California, Rudolph and Sletten has been awarded a $960 million design-build contract for the new UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital—showing how efforts to expand and modernize children’s healthcare are gaining momentum across the country.
Read also: Greenwich OKs Construction of Smilow Cancer Center at Greenwich Hospital
NC’s 1st Freestanding Children’s Hospital: Project Factsheet
Project Overview
NC Children’s – The Carolinas’ first freestanding, independent children’s hospital, a historic collaboration between UNC Health and Duke Health.
Location & Development
Location: Apex, North Carolina
Site: 230 acres within the 1,200-acre Veridea mixed-use development
Address: Off Interstate 540 at U.S. 1 interchange
Land Ownership: State pension fund-owned property
Healthcare Campus Components
Main Pediatric Hospital
500-bed pediatric hospital
1.6 million square feet
Integrated central utility plant for 24/7 operations
Additional Facilities
70-bed pediatric inpatient behavioral health hospital (200,000 sq ft)
350,000 sq ft medical office building with outpatient clinics, specialty services, and ambulatory surgical center
200,000 sq ft administrative office facility
Research and education hub supported by Duke and UNC medical schools
Read also: Roper St Francis Healthcare Breaks Ground on $1.2B Hospital Campus in North Charleston
NC Children’s Hospital in Apex: Project Timeline & Investment
Total Investment: $2 billion (multibillion-dollar project)
Groundbreaking: Targeted for 2027
Construction Timeline: 6 years
Design Partner RFQ Deadline: July 28
Economic Impact
Up to 8,000 jobs projected for Apex and Wake County
Significant regional economic development catalyst
Funding Structure
Primary Funding: UNC Health and Duke Health
State Support: Anticipated (amount under negotiation between NC House and Senate)
Public-Private Partnership: Under development
Community Integration
Part of RXR’s Veridea development featuring:
8,000 new homes
3.5 million sq ft retail and dining
12 million sq ft office and research space
New Wake Tech Community College campus
Read also: Intermountain Health Selects Construction Team for Nevada’s First Children’s Stand-Alone Hospital
