Golisano Children's Hospital donors tour site
Lauren Olander was 5 when she died of leukemia in June 2011.
"We can't bring her back," said her dad, Andy. "But we can help others."
With support of friends, family, co-workers and the community, Andy Olander and his wife, Eleanor, are raising money for a healing garden at the new UR Medicine Golisano Children's Hospital.
"She loved the outdoors," Andy Olander said.
Andy and Eleanor were among 150 donors Thursday who toured the work in progress. Enough was done to get a sense of just how the $145 million, eight-story structure will look when it opens next summer.
The electric, gas and data lines are in, and there are 16 miles of copper pipe and 4.6 miles of ductwork. It has about the same amount of steel — approximately 5 million pounds — that went into the renovation of Ralph Wilson Stadium. That would equate to 16,000 offensive linemen at 300 pounds each, said project manager Van Yannas. Much of the 1 million square feet of drywall still has to be painted.
The whole thing is being built with the needs of kids and families in mind. That the hospital will have state-of-the-art medical technology goes without saying. It also features a playdeck, lounges, drop-in child care for siblings, room for a parent to stay with their child and a library to make a hospital stay as comfortable as it can be, said Dr. Nina Schor, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center.
Schor said the hospital sends a message that the community cares for its children. She said a warm atmosphere helps the healing process. Floors will have themes — such as waterways, meadows and parks — and icons and color schemes to match.
"It's to make kids feel at home," Schor said. "It's to make families feel like we welcome them."
The new structure is adjacent to Strong Memorial Hospital, and the garden will be accessible to both buildings. Even though the area will have walls, it will be open to the sky.
"Families and children that have to remain within the hospital, they can have access just to let the sun hit their face," Andy Olander said. The Fairport couple, parents of Logan and Liam, have raised about $60,000 toward their goal of $250,000.
As donors entered what will be the lobby, they added their signatures to names such as Tom Golisano and Monica Golisano on a wall where they will ultimately be recognized for all to see.
Ellen Hagelberg signed her and husband Frank's names. The couple donated $25,180 and will be naming an area for social workers in the neonatal intensive care unit.
"There is nothing more important than the health of children," Frank Hagelberg said.
PSINGER@DemocratandChronicle.com