Arthur M. Blank Hospital
Designed to deliver leading-edge care for children today and for generations to come, the 19-story, 446-bed hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and features Georgia's only dedicated level 1 pediatric trauma center.
Embracing the healing power of nature and respecting the environment, the master plan prioritized preserving land and green space on the 70-acre campus, resulting in over 20 acres of gardens and green space along with miles of walking trails connecting the buildings on campus and the community.
Lobby areas and waiting spaces are filled with natural daylight and connect to the gardens. The majority of the 446 patient rooms have sweeping views of Atlanta’s Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead skylines, as well as the city’s beautiful tree canopy, earning the hospital its nickname, A City in a Forest.
Through its affiliation with Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, Children’s provides conference and simulation spaces. Innovative labs include a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) lab to advance innovative cellular therapies, the Marcus Center for Pediatric Cellular Therapy lab, and 3D printing labs to design lifesaving treatment options for patients.
Exterior and site design
Guided by the concept of “nurture through nature,” the hospital incorporates biophilic design strategies to promote wellness, including connections to nature through outdoor spaces, views and natural materials.
The 19-story glass building reflects the sky and clouds in ever-changing patterns. Surrounded by low- to mid-rise structures, its scale is softened at the entries for a welcoming feel. Wood-grain phenolic panels at entrances and stair towers add warmth and a natural touch, while the curved glass on the lower levels and towers introduces softness and playfulness.
Simulation
During the design process, an empty 114,000-square-foot warehouse was transformed into a cardboard city–one of the country’s largest, full-scale hospital mock-ups—to test the layouts, adjacencies, and design options through a series of rigorous, high-fidelity clinical simulations. The Simulation-based Hospital Design Testing (SbHDT) was completed early in the design process to inform decisions and identify opportunities for process improvements.
An interdisciplinary team of caregivers, observers, and designers simulated patient scenarios to actively study the interaction between patients, staff, and the built environment. This enabled the team to identify patient safety issues, anticipate patient needs, discover design-related operational challenges, and explore solutions for proposed modifications.
More than 880 staff members participated in 146 scenarios, conducted across 41 highly collaborative days of testing. The results were tremendously impactful—the team identified 722 “latent risks” in operational inefficiencies, deviances from clinical best practices, potential staff and patient safety risks, and opportunities to optimize clinical workflows. Design adjustments were completed before construction, saving an estimated $90 million in possible changes.
Amenities
The hospital offers a Family Resource and Business Center, an Interfaith Chapel, and on-site sleeping rooms. Child life activity rooms are located throughout, providing spaces for play and creativity.
Spacious private rooms are designed for comfort, featuring abundant natural light and scenic views. The family zone includes dedicated areas for work, entertainment, and relaxation. Each patient floor also features a family lounge, a kitchenette, and laundry facilities, creating a welcoming space for rest and connection.
Natural daylight floods the lobby and many amenities—including a dining area and an outdoor terrace that seamlessly blends with the garden. The Eatery, bathed in natural light, offers direct access to the gardens and an outdoor dining terrace. The natural and imaginative design features organic materials and finishes that evoke a garden-like warmth, enhanced by abundant sunlight.
Kids of all ages enjoy the Seacrest Studio—a lively broadcast space visited by musicians and celebrities—along with Art and Music Therapy and the Zone.
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