Hospital's New Helipad Landing On Top Of Newest Building Now In Use Till 2022

This week, Children's Hospital new helistop landing was activated. The new temporary
location is on the rooftop of Forest A, now known as Friends of Costco Building, until Building Care is completed in 2022.

The helicopter landing pad will sit at 176 feet. The hospital has advised that noise will likely be louder than it was with the former ground-based helipad location of the last 5 years, near the Emergency Room.

A couple of weeks ago Airlift Northwest conducted two test flights to the new helistop location. The test flights included one daytime and one evening landing and takeoff, along with simulation work by Seattle Children’s personnel on the rooftop.

The Laurelhurst Community Club,said in a recent newsletter:

Children’s Helistop 

Seattle Children’s Helistop has been located on the ground level since the early 1990s. It accommodates the transport of sick children by helicopter directly to the hospital or to landings at a UW sports field on east campus. Twice a year, the number and type of landings are reviewed by an independent committee of professionals and LCC. In the six months from January to June 2018, there were 73 landings, 61 at SCH and 12 at the UW field, compared to 54 in 2017 and 53 in 2016 for the same period.  

As part of the latest expansion by SCH, the helistop location will change to the top of the Friends of Costco Building (Forest A) on October 17. EIS predictions suggest noise will be more intense for some Laurelhurst residents, since the prior ground-level location sheltered the noise. 

Lighting will be as low as permissible; however, each patient transport takes a minimum of 20 to 45 minutes. Noise likely will be louder than the ground-based helipad. When Forest B is complete, the helistop moves to its permanent location on top of Forest B (same height). Noise levels will remain increased at nearby residential sites in Laurelhurst. LCC will continue to monitor and work with SCH on any issues that may arise with the new location.

In early 2022, the helipad will be permanently moved and located on top of the Forest B building, currently  under construction.  The new eight-story building will include diagnostic and treatment facilities, labs, new state-of-the-art operating rooms, 20 inpatient beds, and a lobby. Two floors underground are for parking and sterile processing. This will bring SCH bed total to 409, up from 200 before its expansion 2012 plan. 

Outside surface parking at that location will be eliminated and 323 parking places will be located under Forest B, a net increase of 137 spaces. There will be exits to Penny Drive and 40th Avenue NE, an already heavily congested route and which serves as the main entrance to Laurelhurst for fire, police and emergency vehicles. 

For more information go here.