Client: University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
Location: Cleveland, OH, United States
Completion date: 2014
Artwork budget: $10,000,000
Project Team
Architect
Betsy Beaman
Stanley Beaman & Sears
Architect
Brian Peterka
Stanley Beaman & Sears
Interior Designer
Robin Kirkman
Architect
Moses Waindi
Industry Resource
Skyline Design
Overview
The Angie Fowler Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Institute redefines oncology treatment as an illuminated journey of health, hope, and light. The project completely renovates the 8th floor outpatient space: two treatment wings, a central pharmacy, and generous lounge areas providing the much needed space for relaxation and socialization critical to the hospital’s standard of care. A 60 foot long, custom illuminated welcome wall guides patients from the lobby to treatment wings where decentralized care team stations allow direct communication between staff and patients.
Goals
Thoughtful design focused on the patient and their family has the potential to change the clinical hospital environment into something personal and profound. To that end, the architecture has been developed as a journey of light and healing. A 60 foot long, custom illuminated welcome wall guides patients from the lobby to treatment wings where decentralized care team stations allow direct communication between staff and patients. Patients are able to personally adjust the color of the treatment spaces through color changing light fixtures incorporated into the ceilings. Magnetic glass walls allow for personal messages as well as staff communication. Preserved views and windows are impactful throughout space, but if quiet reflection is desired, frosted glass doors can be closed to create a more private environment. Patient care extends beyond the clinical world into the realm of the emotional, experiential, personal and possible.
Process
Throughout the design process, strong leadership from the primary donor and the hospital development team provided a clear path forward for the total renovation. For the donor, whose own daughter died of cancer in her teen years, this was always a very personal project. The goal was to create a facility to attract the top researchers, caregivers, and doctors while simultaneously providing a space for young patients to feel like themselves during treatment. From waiting areas to pediatric activity rooms to the teen lounge and the treatment rooms themselves, the entire project was designed to embrace everyone who enters with warming light-filled spaces and provide a place to come together to help the patient heal. Three key client principles: participation, collaboration, and sharing information, guided the planning and decisions along the path to completion.
Additional Information
The result is a space for everyone to come together and contribute to the best care for the patient. The goal is to deliver an architecture that speaks to the human experience -- one of connection, interaction, place-making, and community.