Shriners to build new hospital in St. Louis

The Shriners Hospital for Children has signed a deal to buy nearly 6 acres of property from Washington University to build a hospital that will collaborate more closely with St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine physicians. Terms of the property deal were not disclosed. The Shriners expect to sell its first area 60-bed hospital in Frontenac, MO, that specializes in pediatric orthopedic services when the new one is completed. It is unknown how many beds or operating rooms the new hospital will hold, and preliminary estimates put the cost at about $86 million.