For Earth Day inspiration, look no further than Texas Children’s brand-new hospital in North Austin. With interior design inspired by Central Texas landscapes and ecology, vibrant outdoor spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light and so much more beneath the surface, North Austin Campus is a beacon of healthy and sustainable design.
Traditionally, hospital design has been focused on efficiency and safety – but with a growing emphasis on healthy spaces and sustainable materials, health care facilities are evolving from the inside out by creating unique and healing experiences that go far beyond the physical.
“The material industry has partly caused that shift,” said Senior Vice President of Facilities Planning & Development Jill Pearsall, who also had a hand in designing and building both West Campus and The Woodlands hospitals. “Manufacturers have either been forced to change what they put in their materials or have chosen to be more sustainable…and I think that’s a good thing.”
These trends have pushed Texas Children’s to adopt new products and methods that are better for the environment. “The paint, carpet, flooring manufacturers…they’ve changed their ways, and we’ve adapted too because it’s what’s available, and because it’s also the right thing to do,” added Pearsall.
North Austin Campus was required to get a two-star rating from the foundational Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) program, and ended up with a three-star rating. “We not only designed this facility to meet city requirements, but we also layered in an educational program designed to teach others what we’ve done to be sustainable and respectful of the environment, and hopefully teach kids that those things are possible.”
Other earth-friendly features of the hospital include:
- Preservation of natural wetlands on the 24-acre site
- Significant tree preservation, regional native and adaptive plants, a variety of shade and ornamental trees, including a 10” specimen Shumard Oak adjacent to main entrance
- Outdoor paseo with a “peekaboo” garden wall for respite space and physical/sports therapy
- Bike racks at building entrances and electric vehicle charging throughout garage
- Pond used for site irrigation, replenished by condensate from cooling towers in central plant
- Sustainably and locally sourced materials
Bringing North Austin to fruition wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless work and collaboration of our One Amazing Team across Austin and Houston, and our dedicated partners at Page and McCarthy. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in the early stages of planning, virtual meetings only brought these teams closer together and more aligned to a core mission, according to Pearsall.
Click here to watch a special video from our design partner, Page, and view the gallery below to see photos of North Austin Campus.
It’s not a day – it’s a movement! Click here for Earth Day resources and activities, and click here to learn more about Texas Children’s commitment to reduce organizational emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2050.
