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Kay Research and Care Center

Client
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Location
Memphis, Tennessee
What we did
Planning, Programming, Architecture, Interior Design, Experiential Graphic Design
Size
90,000-SF Modernization
Collaboration
Evans Taylor Foster Childress served as the Architect of Record

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital treats the toughest childhood cancers and pediatric diseases, so Page created an immersive and experiential design to spark children’s imagination, distracting them from the stress of their lengthy hospital stays by inspiring and supporting play.

The three renovated floors each house 17 family suites with home-like rooms for parents and patients. Play and imagination abound through the interactive shadow boxes and “Discovery Walls” that line the corridors. Each features nine flat-panel LCDs programmed for gestural interactive play. And every floor uses environmental graphics, custom interactive games, and interior design elements to offer a unique experience—Nature’s Orchestra, Discover the Sea, and Explore Space. Will your child go on safari, swim in the ocean, or blast off to the moon?

But the adventure doesn’t stop there. This high-tech, interactive environment caters to young patients of all ages and makes imagination and play integral parts of the healing process.

Awards

  • 1
    Best of the Best Award IIDA Georgia Chapter, Architizer A+ Color Award
  • 2
    Best of the Best Awards Overall Best of Show IIDA Tennessee
  • 3
    Best of the Best Awards Best in Healthcare IIDA Tennessee
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Room for imagination

The centrally located Imagine Room, with an interactive screen that curves into the ceiling, allows children to enjoy virtual experiences such as soaring through space, flying above trees, or swimming with fish. Comfortably furnished with cinema seating for movies and interactive light shows, the space also features a stage for imaginative play.

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Sparking imagination

Our design reimagines the 50-foot-long corridors leading from elevators to treatment areas as interactive “Journey Walls” with LED curtains and immersive audiovisual systems. And there are spaces for all ages—kids use their imagination in playrooms, pre-teens watch movies, and teenagers chat in conversation areas.

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“I was inspired by the stories shared by the patients and families to deliver a magical holistic healing environment that would encourage and comfort them throughout their journey.”
Robin Kirkman
Associate Principal, Lead Designer
Atlanta

Immersive experience

Journey inside the inpatient areas

Immersive and interactive elements set the stage for healing journeys of the imagination in this video from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Environmental graphic design introduces a touch of play to distract children from the stresses of hospitalization.

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Complex challenges need fresh perspectives and deep expertise. Connect with our team to explore how we can help you create spaces that make a real difference.