NC Children’s Health Campus and Hospital Coming to Apex
Partnership between UNC Health, Duke Health, and NC Children's Health will build a standalone, independent hospital dedicated entirely to children, adolescents, and families from across the Southeast.
Apex, NC, Jul. 11, 2025 — Apex has been selected as the home of a landmark new children’s health campus, officials from UNC Health and Duke Health announced Thursday. The two organizations, collaborating through North Carolina Children’s Health, will build a standalone, independent hospital dedicated entirely to children, adolescents, and families from across the state and Southeast.
The project will be located on a 230‑acre site at the intersection of US‑1 and NC‑540 in Apex. It is expected to include a 500‑bed hospital, an outpatient care center, 103 behavioral health beds, and a research and education hub affiliated with the medical schools at UNC‑Chapel Hill and Duke University. Construction of the children’s campus is expected to take approximately six years, with a groundbreaking anticipated in 2027.
“This is a golden moment for our community,” said Apex Mayor Jacques K. Gilbert. “This campus will bring new jobs to Apex, and it will also bring a new sense of community—a place where hope, healing, and compassionate care come together.”
The facility will be the only independent children’s hospital in the Carolinas. According to UNC and Duke officials, the initiative responds to growing demand for pediatric services across North Carolina, where more than 2.4 million children currently reside.
“This campus will create a brighter, healthier future for generations of children and adolescents across North Carolina and the Southeast,” said Dr. Wesley Burks, CEO of UNC Health and dean of the UNC School of Medicine. “It will be the kind of place that every parent, caregiver and child deserves—one that makes them feel welcomed, safe and cared for at every step of their health care journey.”
The site is located within the planned “Veridea” mixed‑use development—an area set to include retail, housing, offices, and a Wake Technical Community College campus. The health campus is expected to generate approximately 8,000 jobs and serve as an anchor for long‑term economic growth in Apex and Wake County.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to provide children with a space built just for them,” said Dr. Craig Albanese, CEO of Duke Health. “This new facility will offer a setting designed to deliver world‑class care for kids, enable new models of care delivery and provide a seamless experience for families—all while training the next generation of pediatric care providers and expanding the boundaries of what is possible in pediatric medicine.”
The land for the project was purchased from the North Carolina State Treasurer’s Department of State Treasurer Investment Management Division. State Treasurer Brad Briner praised the agreement as “a win‑win‑win transaction that benefits pension plan members, taxpayers and North Carolina Children’s Health.”
A Growing Healthcare Hub in Southern Wake
Once built, the children’s campus will join a growing network of specialized medical facilities in southern Wake County. Among them is UNC Health Rex Holly Springs Hospital, a full‑service, eight‑story community hospital in Holly Springs. The 242,000 square‑foot facility includes 50 inpatient beds, a full-service Emergency Department, and operating rooms for a wide range of surgeries. The hospital also provides advanced imaging and support services, including MRI, radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. For expecting families, the hospital features seven labor and delivery rooms, a C-section operating suite, and OB emergency bays, offering comprehensive care in a modern, patient‑centered environment. Designed with future growth in mind, the facility supports the health care needs of one of the fastest-growing areas in the region.
Just miles away, the region also welcomed Peak Rehabilitation Hospital—a state‑of‑the‑art, 52‑bed acute rehabilitation facility that officially opened in February 2025. The hospital offers specialized care in stroke recovery, brain and spinal cord injuries, neurological disorders, and other complex conditions. It features private rooms, large interdisciplinary therapy gyms equipped with advanced technology, and an expert rehab team focused on helping patients maximize function and independence.
Together, these facilities—and the future NC Children’s Health Campus—are transforming Apex and its surrounding communities into a regional hub for comprehensive, high‑quality care across all life stages.