Arkansas Children’s provides updates on Springdale hospital expansion

Arkansas Children’s Northwes^[1]t in Springdale anticipates completing its $82.7 million expansion by late 2026. The expansion will increase inpatient beds to 40 from 25 and includes 50,000 square feet of new space and 23,000 square feet of renovated space.

Little Rock-based pediatric health system Arkansas Children’s released Wednesday (Sept. 24) new details and renderings on the expansion project^[2], which broke ground in 2024. It is part of the system’s $318 million project to improve access, outcomes and experiences. The project will add 150 pediatric-trained doctors statewide as well as more than 400 employees, including nurses.

The expansion at Arkansas Children’s Northwest “will create more resources, advanced tools and spaces tailored to children’s specific needs,” according to a news release. “ACNW’s growth will bridge a gap for families from surrounding states who need higher levels of specialized care and will further reduce the need for Arkansas families to seek care outside the region.”

Nabholz is the general contractor and is “focused on blending the new construction and existing hospital along all floors,” the release shows.

The plan is to open the building to overnight patients in fall 2026. It will add new operating rooms, a new procedure room and a new endoscopy procedure suite.

“Every child deserves a healthier tomorrow, and that starts with access to exceptional care, close to home for children in this region,” said Marcy Doderer, Arkansas Children’s president and CEO. “This expansion is about more than new buildings. It’s about answering the call when a child needs surgery, chemotherapy or a second chance at life. We are creating more capacity to care for this region’s children.

Following are some of the key enhancements in the expansion.
• Redesigning and expanding lab, pharmacy and sterile processing.
• Expanding several outpatient specialties, including Neurology, Cardiology and Pulmonary, within the Children’s Center for Health and Wellness through 16,500 new square feet of space.
• Adding an endoscopy suite for GI services, growing infusion spaces and increasing the number of operating rooms.
• Relocating the lab draw area to the main entry.
• Adding 22,500 square feet of new shell space to support growth.

“We are building the future together in this next chapter in our story,” Doderer said. “The result will define excellence and deliver a healthier tomorrow for the children of Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding states.”

Since its 2018 opening, Arkansas Children’s Northwest has had over 570,000 patient visits and provided children in Northwest Arkansas with specialized care, supported by quaternary care resources at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

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