Conceptual rendering of NC Children's
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APEX, N.C. – With the goal of creating a brighter future for our children, North Carolina Children’s Health (NC Children’s) has chosen a location in Apex for its campus, which will include the only freestanding, independent children’s hospital in the Carolinas. NC Children’s, a partnership between UNC Health and Duke Health, will be built on approximately 230 acres of land at the intersection of US-1 and NC-540.
When complete, NC Children’s will bring approximately 8,000 jobs to Apex and Wake County, a 500-bed children’s hospital, a children’s outpatient care center, 103 children and adolescent behavioral health beds, and a research and education enterprise backed by the UNC and Duke schools of medicine.
“We are incredibly excited to confirm Apex and Wake County as the home for NC Children’s,” said Wesley Burks, M.D., CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “This campus will create a brighter, healthier future for generations of children and adolescents across North Carolina and the Southeast, and we’re thrilled to have Apex as our home and partner.”
The 230-acre NC Children’s campus will be seamlessly integrated into Veridea, a 1,000+ acre mixed-use community created by RXR featuring 8,000 new homes, 3.5 million square feet of retail and dining, 12 million square feet of office and research space, and a new Wake Tech Community College campus.
“Finding the right home for NC Children’s was among our top priorities, and this location offers the space and access required for a world-class children’s hospital,” said Craig Albanese, M.D., CEO of Duke Health. “From the moment children and families enter the campus, they will know they are in a place built just for them. Most importantly, children with the most complex health issues will have access to the most highly specialized pediatric services – right here in the heart of North Carolina.”
“As Mayor and the Chair of the Town’s Economic Development Committee, I want to share how extremely proud and excited I am about North Carolina Children’s coming to Apex – a golden moment for our community,” said Apex Mayor, Jacques K. Gilbert.
“This transformational project will bring new jobs – not only strengthening our economy, but creating opportunities for people to be part of something greater: a space where hope, healing, and compassionate care come together for countless families.
“I’m deeply moved as I envision the children and families from across North Carolina, the nation, and even the world who will find care and comfort here,” Gilbert said. “This moment reflects the very heart of Apex – a compassionate community and the true peak of hope for all."
“North Carolina Children’s represents the very best of our state – bringing people together to propel North Carolina forward to the benefit of our citizens, and in this case, particularly our children,” said North Carolina Treasurer, Brad Briner.
“We are thrilled to help bring this vision to a reality,” said Briner. “This sale of land held by our pension fund allows us to make a good return on investment, for NC Children’s to secure a home in a growing and thriving community, and most importantly, our citizens and taxpayers to benefit from both. This is truly a win-win-win.”
“We're thrilled to welcome NC Children's to Veridea, one of North Carolina's most dynamic mixed-use developments,” said Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of RXR, the developer leading the Veridea project. “This premier pediatric healthcare facility will be perfectly positioned within Veridea's amenity-rich environment, furthering Apex's reputation as one of the fastest-growing communities in the thriving Research Triangle.”
In addition to announcing Apex and Wake County as its new home, the NC Children’s team today is issuing a request for qualifications (RFQ) to design and construction contractors as the next step on our journey to creating North Carolina’s only health system just for kids.
“With Apex as our home, NC Children’s will ensure that the Triangle remains a hub and a destination for the best pediatric scientists, teachers and clinicians – convenient to both medical school campuses, said Mary E. Klotman, M.D., executive vice president of health affairs of Duke University, chief academic officer for Duke Health and dean of the Duke University School of Medicine.
“I’m also tremendously excited about the potential for innovation and discovery with NC Children’s and nearby businesses and universities,” Klotman said. “This is a huge opportunity for NC Children’s, for Apex, Wake County, and the entire region.”
Following today’s announcement, over the next several months, the NC Children’s team will be focused on site planning, with a groundbreaking anticipated in 2027 and construction expected to take approximately six years.
Learn more about NC Children’s and our future in Apex at ncchildrens.org.
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