Pediatric patients will lead the groundbreaking for the new University of Iowa Children’s Hospital facility on Friday.

The event will take place at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the UI Hospitals and Clinics’ Colloton Patio.

Construction on the $292 million project began in the fall of 2012.

The new Children’s Hospital will have 134 beds, and 55 beds will remain atthe old facility, totaling 189 for patient use. University officials expect that the 480,000-square-foot facility will be completed by 2016.