Nevada Children’s Hospital Names Builders, Sets 2030 Opening

LAS VEGAS — Construction partners have been announced for Nevada’s first stand-alone children’s hospital, which is planned to open its doors in the southwest valley by 2030.

Intermountain Health confirmed Wednesday that The PENTA Building Group and Jacobsen Construction will lead construction of the Nevada Children’s Hospital.

PENTA, a well-known builder with offices in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Southern California, has recently completed major projects like the BLVD shopping center on the Strip and currently manages $11 billion in active work nationwide. Jacobsen Construction, based in Salt Lake City, built the Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi, Utah, which opened in 2024.

The new hospital will be built at UNLV’s Harry Reid Research and Technology Park, northeast of the 215 Beltway at South Durango Drive. Groundbreaking is expected in 2026.

“It was vital for us in the contractor selection to bring both ingenuity and craftmanship along with the aspect of homegrown Nevada connections,” said Lawrence Barnard, president of the Nevada Children’s Hospital. “The Nevada Children’s Hospital is poised to be state-of-art, welcoming families close to home with the compassionate service for which Intermountain is known.”

When completed, the facility will be the first hospital in the state fully dedicated to children’s health, helping families avoid out-of-state travel for specialized pediatric care.

John Cannito, president and CEO of The PENTA Building Group, said the project is about more than just construction: “The Intermountain Health Children’s Hospital is going to be an incredible addition to the Las Vegas community, and The PENTA Building Group is excited to partner with Jacobsen Construction to help make it a reality,” Cannito said.

“As a local Las Vegas contractor, we see this as more than just another construction project; it’s an opportunity to be part of something amazing that is going to make Southern Nevada a better place for our families and friends. We are proud to be selected by Intermountain Health as a partner in this historic initiative,” he added.

Earlier this year, Intermountain Health announced it had signed a lease for the site and named architects Shepley Bulfinch and Gensler to design the hospital.

Why This Matters

‍Southern Nevada has long lacked a stand-alone children’s hospital, leaving many families to travel out of state for certain pediatric treatments and surgeries. The Nevada Children’s Hospital will help close that gap, improving access to critical care for thousands of children each year.

Community Impact

‍The project is expected to bring hundreds of construction jobs and permanent health care jobs to the region, while expanding partnerships with UNLV’s research and medical education programs.

Next Steps

‍Site preparation is expected to begin within the next two years, with full-scale construction starting in 2026. Intermountain Health says more updates on timelines, design details, and community engagement opportunities will be shared as the project moves forward.

Originally reported by Greg Haas in 8 News Now.