Medical Construction & Design

MAY-JUN 2016

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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46 Medical Construction & Design | M AY/ J U N E 2016 | MCDM AG.COM of an interactive, enjoyable journey. The building's theme of imagination and discovery is evident in every patient space. Splashes of color, playful seating, vibrant artwork, expansive wall murals and fl oor-to-ceiling windows provide opportunities for children to engage with the environment. Graphic elements on the walls, ceilings and fl oors provide positive distractions at the right place at the right time, and are often accompanied by narrative text to engage dif erent age groups. Therapy areas incorporate benchmarks and milestones into the design — for example — graphic elements in the fl ooring are used as destina- tions for children working to improve mobility. Each department or clinic follows a dif erent Missouri-specifi c theme with its own distinctive entry portal marked with a unique color to aid in wayfi nd- ing and create a sense of place. Transforming the brand The branding of the center strikes a balance between maintaining the established and well-respected brand of the main children's hospital and creating a unique identity for this entirely new type of facility. To this end, the facility's exterior incorporates the health system's signature blue band, while punches of color signify it is a place for children. The environment boasts medical technolog y in line with the level of care SLCH patients are accustomed to, particularly in imaging rooms (MRI, X-ray, fl uoroscopy, ultrasound), wound center procedure rooms and modern ambulatory operating rooms. The branding of the outpatient center has been so successful, the system is using it to inform a larger campus renewal project and exploring how it can be infused into inpatient care and other elements of the hospital's main campus. Creativity and disciplined user research are critical for health systems faced with consumers who demand more convenience and accessibil- ity and a better care experi- ence. The St. Louis Children's Specialty Care Center — which has been outpacing an- ticipated patient volume since opening — serves as a premier example of how good design can directly impact a facility's ef ectiveness and its strength as a community asset. Jocelyn Stroupe, CHID, EDAC, IIDA, ASID, is the director of healthcare interiors at CannonDesign. She helps clients unite the disciplines of planning, programming, branding and facility management with cohesive, comforting interior design. Missouri-themed graphics vary by department/clinic. Accompanying text engages patients at different ages and learning levels.

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