The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center’s expansion of its Pediatric Specialty Hospital, designed by VEBH Architects, has been named the Building Project of the Year. The award was presented at the 6th Annual Pittsburgh Transportation, Building & Construction Awards Luncheon hosted by the March of Dimes – Pennsylvania Chapter.
The award, presented to Pamela Schanwald, the Center’s CEO, and Daniel Engen, AIA, VEBH Principal, recognizes the special nature of the project, the mission of The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh, and the design that creates an outstanding environment for care for pediatric patients and integrates family into the caring process. The project was selected from more than 100 entries and was recognized along with the Tower at PNC Plaza.
The VEBH design team was led by Mr. Engen. The project was constructed by P.J. Dick.
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The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center’s Pediatric Specialty Hospital is the only hospital of its kind in the state of Pennsylvania and a significant asset for our regional healthcare market. The Pediatric Specialty Hospital provides unique, specialized transitional care for children whose ages range from birth to 21. The expansion of the Hospital included the goal of creating family-focused patient rooms like no others… rooms that allowed families to be with their child and a part of the caring process.
The two new nursing units were designed in a vertical addition over an existing one-story wing of the Hospital. Each is designed to create a positive environment for the Hospital’s pediatric patients and families. Bright colors, touchable surfaces, fun furniture, playful artwork and interesting ceilings create a fascinating world of positive distractions for the patients, parents, and siblings. The design also produces an uplifting work environment for the staff.
Making an Impact for Families
The overriding goal for the design of the new patient rooms, beyond a state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, was creating spaces that kept families close to their child during a hospital stay. Each new patient room permits parents to be with their child and to be a part of the caring process 24/7. The rooms were designed with three integrated zones; one for the patient, one for staff/clinical activities, and one that provides space with a home-like environment for the family. The overlapping zones promote family involvement which allows the nursing staff to teach parents how to care for their child when they return home.
The family zone includes furniture that can be converted for sleeping and other space that can be personalized with photos and personal effects during the hospital stay, which can be lengthy. Each private room includes a full bathroom with a shower. Outside the patient rooms are common spaces such as a kitchen/lounge and computer station that offer families an opportunity to have a pause in the care process but still be close. The common spaces offer families opportunities to interact, share their experiences, and to support each other.