UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh has received approval from the city’s Planning Commission to build an addition at its Lawrenceville site to expand its Heart Institute.

Plans call for a 50,000-square-foot addition atop an existing parking structure.

The addition will accommodate the growing Heart Institute and create space for new technology, said Diane Hupp, the hospital’s president. The Heart Institute cares for children and also has an adult congenital heart program.

The additional space would include inpatient and outpatient procedural and diagnostic spaces, conference areas and waiting and reception rooms.

The new three-story structure would link to the rest of the hospital through a connecting bridge, according to information presented to the Planning Commission. The addition would not impact the current helipad flight path, according to UPMC.

Officials said construction would eliminate about 50 parking spaces. The hospital plans to open up 88 visitor and patient spots at a separate employee parking garage on the hospital’s campus to make up for that loss.

Displaced employees will park at a 1,400-space, off-campus lot that officials said is typically only about half full. Shuttles will bring people to and from the hospital from the lot.

UPMC officials estimated the project will take about two years to complete and should open by December 2025. The hospital did not say how much the project is expected to cost.

The Planning Commission approved the proposal Tuesday with Commissioner Rachel O’Neill abstaining.

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