Comprehensive Theming Unveiled at Golisano Children’s Hospital

DENVER, Colo. – ArtHouse Design has completed a comprehensive environmental graphics, wayfinding, theming and donor signage design program for Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, New York. Featuring 52 private rooms and 68 neonatal intensive care units in 245,000 square feet, the new, $145-million Golisano Children’s Hospital showcases ArtHouse Design’s capabilities in developing creative, colorful, inviting and functional environmental graphics, wayfinding, theming and donor signage for children’s hospitals.

The Golisano Children’s Hospital design team included Ballinger Architects (building architecture & interiors) and ArtHouse Design (theming, wayfinding, environmental graphics).

A part of the University of Rochester Medical Center complex, the Golisano Children’s Hospital is located in a new, eight-story addition connected to Strong Memorial Hospital.

The vibrant environmental graphics feature images and icons relevant to the geography of upstate New York. For example, each level of Golisano Children’s Hospital features color and graphics related to Lake, Meadow, Glenn, Garden, Park and City. The corresponding environmental graphics on each level help adults and children navigate the hospital using color and hand-drawn graphic icons that create a distinct sense of place for each level. Unique design elements include:

• Custom-designed, backlit nurses’ station desks that are artful, warm and inviting white cubes with etched, glowing panels
• Back-lit, floor-to-ceiling graphics and photographic murals
• Interactive, kinetic games embedded in the walls for children to interact and play with
• Vibrantly colored, five-foot-diameter graphic icons that identify the level in elevator lobbies
• Wall-embedded dioramas
• Glass walls with patterns that feature grass, flowers and water patterns
• Whimsical wall graphics inside exam and treatment rooms that are designed to minimize the emotional impact and visibility of imposing medical equipment
• Interactive play areas for different ages within the hospital
• Carpet graphics that complement the theming
• Special designs for neonatal intensive care rooms that look and feel like a nursery

The environmental graphics and theming were crafted with multiple, complementary layers of graphics to create interest and a new experience every time a child or parent is in the hospital.

Donor signage at Golisano Children’s Hospital has been designed for a children’s hospital. For example, a wall-mounted donor signage area within the hospital was crafted in a rainbow of candy colors appropriate for a children’s hospital.