In pediatric healthcare design, it’s easy to default to the assumption that a cheerful palette or playful artwork is enough to make a space “kid friendly.” But aesthetics alone do not meet the complex needs of young patients, their families or the care teams who serve them.
The recently completed expansion of the Frank M. and Dorothea Henry Cancer Center (HCC) was led by the architecture design and planning firm FCA.
When the image of a hospital comes to mind, most envision a similar setting: fluorescent lighting, various mechanical noises, white tile floors, eggshell painted walls and the smell of disinfectant. For some visitors, these environmental components can evoke feelings of unease and even anxiety.
