Connecticut Children’s celebrated a historic milestone with the grand opening of its new clinical tower in Hartford, Connecticut, marking the largest expansion in the organization’s history. The eight-story building is designed to deliver care in a healing, welcoming environment. The 190,000-square-foot tower includes 25 private neonatal intensive care rooms and a fetal care center that offers outpatient and inpatient care and treatments for complex fetal conditions.
The project is the culmination of two and a half years of construction, thousands of planning hours and extensive collaboration. The tower incorporates locally inspired art and nature themes; open-air terraces and meditation spaces; real-time safety technology; a seamless car-to-care experience and sustainable design features such as donor recognition walls created from upcycled trees once located on the hospital’s front lawn.
The building’s whimsical touches — including “flying submarine” elevators, interactive walls, selfie stations, themed floors inspired by Connecticut wildlife and a towering illuminated Tree of Life in the tower’s two-story glass atrium — reflect a belief that childhood wonder has a healing power all its own. These features, combined with advanced clinical spaces and improved access, deliver an unmatched experience for patients and families. The project team included CannonDesign, DPR Construction, Colliers Project Leaders, Salas O’Brian, Fuss and O’Neill and LAZ Parking.

