University of Iowa’s Children’s Hospital to Undergo Major Overhaul with Comprehensive Window Replacement

IOWA CITY — The University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital is facing growing costs for replacing faulty windows installed in the building. They are requesting an additional $7.5 million for what could become a nearly complete window replacement project.

If the Board of Regents approves this new budget next week, the total cost for replacing the damaged windows will rise to $52.5 million. This amount reflects a 16 percent increase from the $45 million budgeted in 2023. Originally, back in 2021, the regents had approved only $10 to $15 million to replace windows on just two floors.

Opened in 2017, the hospital has struggled with window issues since its completion. These problems include cracking and delamination, which pose safety risks. The university’s request for extra funding highlights the urgency of replacing these faulty windows.

Concerns about the hospital’s windows first arose shortly after it opened. In 2019, the university hired a consultant to examine the issues and prepare for possible litigation. Their findings led to an initial request to replace the windows while promising further investigation into the source of the problems.

Rod Lehnertz, the university’s Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations, indicated that the effort to address these window issues extends beyond just the visibly damaged areas. He noted that there could be problems on other floors as well, raising the potential for even more extensive repairs.

The situation hasn’t been simple. The university spent years in legal battles with contractors and developers. These disputes have ballooned the total cost of the hospital to over $400 million, far exceeding the original budget of $270.8 million.

As a precaution, the hospital closed its playground and applied temporary measures to secure the windows until new replacements could be put in. The university filed a lawsuit against the contractors responsible for the faulty window installations, citing risks posed to patients and visitors due to possible falling glass.

The legal proceedings took time, going to arbitration in September 2022, but without resolution even after a year. A trial is set for no later than December 31, 2024, although the matter was recently dismissed from court.

Work to replace the windows from levels 3 to 11 began in 2023 and is expected to last until late 2026. The hospital plans to finance these necessary repairs through its revenue generated from patient services.

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