Care, above all
East Tennessee Children’s Hospital,
Scripps Networks Tower
Knoxville, TN
The 275,000-sf expansion and renovation of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital fulfills a strategic goal to improve the quality and efficiency of care, and enhance the Hospital’s visibility as the region’s comprehensive pediatric center.
The tower expansion seamlessly integrates into the existing campus through a series of multi-story glass bridges and green spaces. Each connection point contains public and family amenities to support a more integrated family-centered experience and additional interaction with staff.
The new 44-bed NICU dramatically expands capacity for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The top-floor location of the NICU features a series of expansive “light courts” that illuminate every private room, and contribute to a sense of well-being among patients. The adjacent rooftop garden provides communal spaces for families to connect with nature, reflect, and heal.
Patient rooms are organized into neighborhoods, which helps break up the unit’s scale. The increased size of each private room allows parents and other family members more privacy and extended visiting opportunities.
“The project is about acknowledging the importance of families in the care we provide, improving the efficiency of care, and ensuring that we have the opportunity to accommodate future growth.”
Keith Goodwin, CEO, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital
Exterior terracotta panels introduce a new material palette that complements the surrounding campus’ brick façade. Indigo-spectrum metal panels connect back to and reinforce the existing brand identity. Shepley Bulfinch is Design Architect, in association with BarberMcMurry, Architect of Record.
