By HFT Staff

Ochsner Health has broken ground on The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital. Ochsner announced plans for The Gayle and Tom Benson Ochsner Children’s Hospital in December 2023 after a transformative gift from The Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation. Slated for completion in early 2028, the five story, 343,000 square foot, pediatric and family-centered facility will be constructed on the campus of Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans.  

The significant investment of $300 million marks the largest single construction project in Ochsner history. The impact of this project is estimated to create approximately 400 permanent jobs and 200 construction jobs. The facility will include a larger, easily accessible pediatric emergency department, with significant enhancements to critical care, operating rooms, and imaging capacity and a Level IV Surgical Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) enabling highly specialized care for babies who need surgery. 

The project will have an impact on the health and well-being of children in the community and beyond, as well as its contribution to the neighborhood through enhanced amenities. The development includes a pocket park and green space on River Road between Betz Avenue and Deckbar Avenue, featuring oak trees and plans for a pedestrian crossing to improve access to the Mississippi River levee pathway. Additionally, the project will provide over 435,000 gallons of improved underground drainage retention.