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Stony Brook Medicine celebrated the completion of its newest children’s hospital with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.
The new four-story facility, which will begin seeing patients on Nov. 17, will be adding 48 single-bed rooms to Stony Brook University Hospital.
“This beautiful new, state-of-the-art Children’s Hospital will expand Stony Brook’s capabilities to meet the growing healthcare needs of children and their families across Long Island,” said Dr. Michael Bernstein, Interim President for Stony Brook University, at the celebration.
According to the hospital, Stony Brook treats more than 8,000 inpatient and 106,000 pediatric outpatients per year. To do so, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital employs more than 250 nursing staffers, including nurses, nursing assistants, and unit clerks — with more than 180 pediatric specialists trained in over 30 specialties.
The 71,500-square-foot Stony Brook Children’s Hospital is all about providing comfort to its youthful patients.
“The new hospital was designed with patients at the center of our thinking and planning, to promote their safety, well-being, and healing,” said Dr. Margaret M. McGovern, physician-in-chief at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. “When it opens, Stony Brook will be the only children’s hospital on Long Island with all single-patient rooms, which will allow us to combine the best practices in modern pediatric medicine with a child-first, family-first philosophy.”
Inside the space, there is a nautical theme to pay homage to Long Island, with a live video feed from Riverhead’s Long Island Aquarium. There are also separate children and teenage playrooms, a rooftop garden, and a Ronald McDonald Family Room.
The cost of this building was $73 million, which is part of Stony Brook Medicine’s larger $450 million expansion plan.
Last November, Stony Brook rolled out its $200 million state-of-the-art Medical and Research Translation (MART) project, which features more exam rooms, research labs, a 305-seat auditorium, and classrooms.
A large portion of the funding for the children’s hospital expansion came by the way of donations. Around $25 million was contributed by 3,584 donors to the Children’s Hospital Building Fund. This included a $10 million donation from an anonymous donor and $2.5 million from the Knapp Swezey Children’s Challenge.
The rest of the funds were helped through $50 million in state aid.
“I am pleased to continue my support of the Children’s Hospital,” said state Senator Kenneth P. LaValle. “It is critically important that families going through such an emotional time will receive cutting-edge healthcare close to their homes and their support systems. The facility is well on its way to becoming a preeminent children’s medical care provider in the region.”
For those interested in checking out the new facility, Stony Brook University Hospital will be hosting a community open house on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Scroll down for photos courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine.
The lobby at the new children’s hospital 
The Ronald McDonald Family Room 
Two children enjoying the artwork at the new children’s hospital 
Children’s playroom. 
Exterior shot of the children’s hospital 
The lounge area that features live feed from Long Island Aquarium
Top: Ribbon-cutting ceremony at Stony Brook Medicine’s new children’s hospital (credit: Stony Brook Medicine).
