Banner Thunderbird starts construction of women and infant services tower

GLENDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 8, 2024) - Banner Thunderbird Medical Center has begun construction of a new state-of-the-art women and infant services tower. The tower will extend 165,000 square feet across six floors, housing essential facilities including obstetrics triage, labor and delivery and Cesarean-section rooms, a pre-operative clinic, an ambulatory procedure unit, postpartum and well baby nursery, antepartum, continuing care nursery and neonatal intensive care unit.

The $221 million project, led by renowned architectural firm Devenney and construction company Okland, is expected to be completed in early 2028, with the tower going into operation by early 2027. This development aligns with Banner Thunderbird's commitment to providing advanced healthcare services to its community.

"The women and infant services tower underscore our dedication to delivering exceptional care to patients in the west and northwest valley,” said Debbie Flores, chief executive officer at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center. “This expansion represents our ongoing effort to enhance patient-centric services and elevate the standard of healthcare within our region."

With 595 beds, Banner Thunderbird Medical Center stands as the largest private employer in Glendale and the second-largest employer overall, boasting a team of more than 2,750 employees, 1,782 medical providers and 170 volunteers. Ground was broken Oct. 25 on the forthcoming women and infant services tower, which is poised to further solidify Banner Thunderbird's position as a premier healthcare destination in the west and northwest areas of the Phoenix area. 

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Ariz., specializes in heart care, neurological services, surgical services, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency and trauma care, behavioral health, cancer care, rehabilitation, and pediatrics, including the west valley’s only pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric emergency department and level three neonatal intensive care unit. Banner Thunderbird also operates a level one trauma center for patients ages 15 and older. The hospital is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health system with 33 hospitals in six states. For more information, please visit bannerhealth.com/thunderbird.