At Texas Children’s, attention to detail and careful planning help to set our patients up for positive outcomes. The same can be said for the design and architecture of our buildings. Each facility is planned methodically, beginning with the selection of a great location and allocating the space for the right functions. The architectural design is often a reflection of the local community depicted through a design theme. The finishes, art and graphics reflect that theme and ultimately create a healing environment. Everything you see while walking the halls of the hospitals is there intentionally.
Enter the Facilities, Planning and Development team. This dedicated group is comprised of project managers, interior designers, space planners, and graphics consultants, to name a few. There is also a real estate team dedicated to managing Texas Children’s portfolio, buying, selling and leasing properties and managing our assets. A facilities information team keeps detailed records of every square foot of Texas Children’s property and know who sits in each room and the function of every space. With 30,000 rooms across the entire organization, this is no small feat.
The FPD team also manages the design standards across all Texas Children’s buildings ensuring they select furniture, finishes, art, graphics and security using specific guidelines based on best practices and industry trends. These team members not only keep a finger on the pulse of best practices in the industry and evidence-based design principles, but also consult with the professionals utilizing the space to make sure these elements work and are in the best interest of patients, families and employees. For instance, art selected for a women’s clinic is very different from what would be in a pediatric space or a specialty space like a physical therapy clinic. Pieces for each of these areas are selected to evoke very specific feelings and emotions while promoting healing.
Furniture requires a surprising amount of testing. There are mock-ups and simulation exercises to ensure the furniture is right for the space, fits functional needs, is easy to clean and maintain and is aesthetically pleasing. Evidence-based design principles become critical in making informed decisions, especially with the large amount of data supporting how furniture impacts work efficiency. The FPD team keeps this top of mind when working with furniture manufacturers.
Signage and wayfinding are an integral part of the patient and family experience. When the Facilities team lays out circulation within buildings, they want the path to be intuitive and easy to navigate as well as playful to distract young patients from what they are experiencing. Natural light, clear signage, calming art and Disney murals all play a role in making this happen.
With a palette of 20-30 approved colors, having so many options also help keep our hospitals fun and whimsical. Accent walls are kept “clean” by coordinating locations for thermostats, fire strobes and other infrastructure elements.
These elements and many more were incorporated into the design of two our most recent properties: the North Austin Campus and Pavilion for Women Tower II. A Central Texas landscape theme was used as the inspiration for the interior and exterior design and finishes, like the graphics in the wayfinding signage. A courtyard for patients, families and team members sits in the center of the building for easy accessibility. The design also incorporated many sustainability principles, like re-using the water condensate from the air conditioning system to irrigate the landscape. The building earned an Austin Energy Green Building Council rating of three stars out of five for sustainable design.
With the Pavilion for Women Tower II being an existing space, FPD had a unique challenge to make the large, football field length floorplate feel welcoming. The design carefully divided the large floor into smaller pods of six to nine exams per pod with multiple pods on each floor. Each pod now has its own unique graphics and color theme to break up the floor. This helps patients feel like they are in smaller boutique clinics rather than one overwhelmingly large waiting room attached to 56 exam rooms.
Thanks to the careful attention paid to the design and architecture of Texas Children’s buildings, our spaces are warm, inviting and comforting to our patients and families. The Facilities, Planning and Development team continue to do great work and help us put our best (and most beautiful) foot forward!