WILLISTON, Vt. — Steven & Alexandra Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, designed by MorrisSwitzer~Environments for Health, will be opening a new $130-million pavilion, designed to be a major piece of an ongoing regenerative transformation for the existing hospital.
The six-story addition provides an opportunity to expand and enhance programmatic areas, while adding space for current demands. A ground floor pediatric emergency department with 30 beds and two trauma bays will serve as a base for the building. Upper floors house a new 25-bed pediatric intensive care unit and a new 25-bed medical/surgical unit – all with private rooms. The floor directly above the emergency department is being held in reserve for eight future pediatric operating rooms.
The building’s unique form responds directly to site conditions where two distinct campus alignments intersect. The decidedly modern architectural character of the exterior is designed to be a sympathetic addition to the existing hospital. It features a palette of materials which includes a warm colored sandstone base at ground level, and an iridescent metal panel system above that allows the building facade to display variations in color depending on the angle from which it is viewed.
The inside of every patient room, from the ED to the PICU, is a private room. The patient rooms are designed to be spacious and include features that acknowledge the role of parents in the pediatric healing environment. Naturalistic finishes and abundant daylight provide a backdrop to color accents and more active child-centric elements.
In the new Cohen Children’s Medical Center, images and artwork inspired by nature surround patients and their families with an environment imbued with creativity. A coordinated collection of framed artwork and murals complement each floor’s unique “ecosystem” design, while opportunities for imaginative play give patients the means to improve their own physical, mental and emotional well-being through self-expression and group interaction. This mix of fine art, artwork by children, decorative elements and interactive programs creates a comforting, memorable experience, integrating families with their children throughout the healing process.
Photo courtesy of MorrisSwitzer~Environments for Health.
