As the first community children’s hospital in the Greater Houston area and one of the largest suburban pediatric hospitals in the country, Texas Children’s Hospital wanted to set a new standard for specialized care with their West Campus. They reached out to our team of healthcare planners, architects, designers, and buildings engineers to help.
Designed for long-term growth, we organized the hospital around a grand ellipse strategically aligned with a high-traffic corner of the campus for intuitive wayfinding and visibility. We integrated interior and exterior evidence-based design elements to create a healing, family-friendly environment. Natural light, views of water and nature, child life play areas, and outdoor park-like settings promote well-being for patients and families.
A thoughtful color strategy enhances navigation and experience. Base colors mark entrances and interior portals for clear orientation, while secondary colors in elevator lobbies and common areas provide visual continuity. Tertiary accent colors highlight key interaction spaces—creating a balance between vibrant energy in active areas and soothing tones in inpatient rooms.
A glass entry tower features floating spheres, reminiscent of balloons, that house key functions like the demonstration operating room. Another sphere connects the Emergency Center to the central space, reinforcing intuitive wayfinding while adding an element of wonder and engagement for young patients
Today, the facility features 92 inpatient beds, four operating rooms, a 26-bed pediatric emergency center, and a 220,000-square-foot (20,439-square-metre) outpatient clinic wing. In collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the hospital also houses the first pediatric isolation unit in the US, supporting safe, dedicated care for children with highly contagious infectious diseases.
The campus earned a 3-star Austin Energy Green Building program (AEGB) rating by including recycling condensate water for landscape irrigation, a landscape design that honors Central Texas ecology, efficient electrical and plumbing fixtures, and a larger retention wet pond.
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