Work
Plano, Texas, United States
Troubled by the trends and statistics of the increasing severity of youth sports injuries in correlation to increasing levels of competitiveness, Children's Health of Texas recognized the need to address both acute and chronic effects of childhood injury by rehabbing young athletes and providing them with the training, conditioning and resources to prevent future injury.
They partnered with national leaders in orthopedics, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, to launch Children's Health Andrews Institute on their existing campus. It is located in Plano, just north of the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex which is home to the largest concentration of competitive student athletes in the U.S.
This first-of-its-kind facility provides a complete continuum of care, from surgery, rehabilitation and physical therapy to athletic training and nutrition counseling under one roof, so that patients and their parents benefit from a holistic approach provided by an integrated team of health professionals.
The facility occupies a highly visible site on one of Plano’s main thoroughfares. The graduated curve of the facade is a gesture that welcomes passersby to the building and signifies the entrance to Children’s Health Plano’s campus.
Recent neuroscience research shows that straight lines and sharp corners activate the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with fear, anxiety and aggressiveness. Round shapes and soft curves have a calming effect and are perceived as safe, gentle and graceful so the interior arrival sequence repeats curves and circular forms, which are welcoming and inviting.
Children’s Health Andrews Institute’s target demographic skews older than a typical children’s hospital: ages 8-18. Consequently, it was important that the interiors appeal to pre and teenagers with more mature aesthetics. The space is crisp and modern with an energetic palette of materials, colors and textures to energize the senses. Turquoise, chartreuse and gray are the primary tones, while indigo, purple and orange serve as playful accents.
Surgery is a serious event in the life of a young athlete, and post-operative recovery often presents major challenges. The spaces in which these experiences transpire must be functional and effective, but they can also be whimsical and inspiring to help their young users maintain a positive mental outlook, which is essential to their recovery.
Public areas incorporate bold colors, eye-catching patterns and unexpected details that suggest movement, speed and vitality to activate the space and energize the visitor. Crisp mullions and fritted glass create dramatic shadows and intricate patterns when layered against the interior finish palette.
In the surgical wing, privacy glass panels embedded with strips of colorful paper read more like confetti–an unexpected and playful gesture in this clinical environment. Similar whimsy is found in fabrics throughout the facility.
The building incorporates dedicated spaces for physical therapy and personal training, which are located adjacent to each other and overlook the 60-yard football field and running track. This allows patients to transition seamlessly between the two under the continued observation of their medical team.
The 60-yard football field and six-lane sprint track are essential tools in building student athletes’ linear speed, agility and sports skills. These spaces position Children’s Health Andrews Institute to support whole teams of athletes through regular training and on-site clinics aimed at preventing injury.
Testimonial
“Our design added another benefit to the continuum-of-care delivery model. When you come in with an injury, you see the kids who have gone through the recovery process and are back out playing sports. So there’s a lot of play and inspiration that the patients and families are seeing.”
