Apex Picked for Carolinas' First Children's Hospital

UNC Health and Duke Health have chosen Apex, North Carolina, for the Carolinas' first freestanding, independent children's hospital, to be built on a 230-acre site within the Veridea mixed-use development. The multi-billion dollar NC Children's Health Campus will include a 500-bed hospital, with 103 beds dedicated to behavioral health, an outpatient care center, and a research and education enterprise supported by both universities' medical schools. The broader Veridea development will also feature homes, retail, and office space. The project is expected to create around 8,000 jobs and provide advanced pediatric care and research opportunities for children across North Carolina and the Southeast. Leaders say the facility will help retain medical talent, foster clinical innovation, and meet growing demand for specialized pediatric and behavioral health services. Groundbreaking is planned for 2027, with construction projected to last six years.