The MetroWire Media 2025 KC Healthcare Summit, hosted by Hoefer Welker's Kansas City office, highlighted the transformative impact of the $53 million Children’s Mercy + Camber Mental Health Mental Wellness Campus in Kansas City. This 72-bed, 72,700-square-foot facility, opened in December 2024, addresses critical mental health needs for children and adults. It was designed with safety, dignity, and therapeutic care in mind, featuring ligature-resistant materials, separate areas for youth and adults, and AI-powered security systems.
Panelists Bobby Eklofe, EVP of inpatient operations at Camber Mental Health, Michael Comer, VP at JE Dunn Construction, Robert Koenig, associate principal/senior project manager at Hoefer Welker, and Catie Smith, director of planning and design at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, discussed the facility's innovative design, which includes single-patient rooms, secure entrances, and welcoming spaces to enhance the therapeutic experience. Since its opening, it has served approximately 600 patients and is setting a national standard for mental health care facilities.