Cultivating Joy in Pediatrics
by Kelsi Schwede, AIA, LEED GA
Banner University’s Diamond Children’s Play Zone is an innovative pediatric care space designed to support patients from 18-months to 18-years. Designed to extend the hospital’s Child Life Programs, multi-sensory, interactive environment is a space to disconnect from the hospital environment and escape to a healing oasis.
Diamond Children’s Play Zone, Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. Photo by Kevin Korczyk.
From early schematic design, our team worked closely with Banner Child Life Specialists and the campus planning staff, holding a series of stakeholder meetings that integrated feedback from staff, patients and families. The conversations sparked a visioning experience on how to develop a dual-purpose environment: one where Child Life Specialists can work with patients on education and that provides enjoyable activities while integrating comfort and medical play for child development.
Healing Through Play: Design for Pediatric Wellness
Upon entry, warm colors and graphics depicting ground-dwelling flora and fauna foster a welcoming and comforting environment. As visitors progress toward the double-height multi-purpose space, colors transition to cooler tones through smaller spaces that are strategically placed along the journey.
This design fosters continuity, aids in wayfinding, and helps patients navigate the space with ease. At its core, the installation celebrates color, texture, and pattern—creating a dynamic and engaging environment.
Click to explore the different spaces.
Check-In
At the check-in alcove, a striking abstract graphic, inspired by birds at sunset, welcomes visitors. Red, pink, and purple hues were chosen to command attention while maintaining a sense of calm.
Sibling Center
Focused on the holistic well-being of not only the patient, but the entire family, this special space is designed to serve patients' siblings so they can play, learn and be supported while their loved one is being cared for in the hospital.
Child Life Staff Office
When designing healthcare spaces that are both efficient and empathetic, supporting healthcare workers and caregivers is essential. Child Life Specialists are specially trained to work with young patients, siblings, and parents with the goal of reducing trauma and recovery time and empowering them along their health journey.
Quiet Zone and Sensory Room
Designed for patients who experience sensory hyperstimulation or have challenges regulating their emotions, this darkened room is equipped with LED sensory lights, an interactive fiber optic light display, a cushioned bench, and various sensory-based items to help patients deescalate their feelings.
Parent Seating Area
Overlooking the Toddler and Preschool Zone, parents can supervise their young patients as they are transported away from the typical hospital environment into a world of play.
Toddler and Preschool Zone
An oasis from hospital rooms and diagnostic spaces, the toddler and preschool zone provides age- and size-appropriate fun for young patients. Here, they are able to engage with their peers and enjoy a sense of normalcy in their healthcare journey.
Teen Zone
For older patients, the teen room offers a space to hang out and relax, complete with a pool table, gaming console, and various games. This area provides a sense of normalcy and community for adolescents during their hospital stay.
Medical Play Zone
The medical play zone provides a space where patients can learn about their treatments through play. Using dolls and diagrams, this room helps children understand and feel more comfortable with the medical procedures they are about to undergo.
Donor Wall
Nesting the medical play zone is a wood panel designed to highlight the space and create a focal point in the center of a long linear area. Through close collaboration with the hospital’s foundation, the design team transformed this feature into a donor wall, providing a fundraising opportunity for a critical design element.
Media Room
The media room supports holistic healing and makes sure studies aren't forgotten during patients' stays. Computers are provided for children to attend school virtually and engage in STEM activities.
Art and Science Zone
The art and science zone is a multi-functional, collaborative two-story room designed to be an inclusive creative space. It features a large second-story starry mural and a connection to the exterior, fostering creativity and exploration.
Exterior Play Zone
The exterior play zone allows patients a chance to get some fresh air and sunshine.
Diamond Children’s Play Zone, Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. Photo by Kevin Korczyk.
Creating Versatile Care
From the get-go, our goal was to create a flexible, engaging space that incorporated neutral design elements with colors of intrigue and biophilic principles. Upon entrance, the universal check-in area immediately introduces familial support with a sibling center that provides engaging activities for families of patients. As users move through the space, they have the option of exploring a quiet zone that allows patients to be tutored by the hospital teacher and focus on academics without being distracted.
Nearby, we designed a toddler and preschool play zone specialized for younger patients. The ballet barre and mirror support the growth of younger patients as they develop their motor skills while supervision upon entry ensures the children aren’t wandering through other spaces. These zones include medical play areas as well as places for Child Life Specialists to utilize toys to help children understand the treatments they’re receiving.
These spaces are intentionally enclosed to help patients feel safe and prioritize the patient and Child Life Specialist relationship. We also proposed a sensory room dedicated to children with specific behavioral needs. This space provides patients with fiber optic lighting, interactive toys, and customized furniture to give them a space to sit and refocus.
Diamond Children’s Play Zone, Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. Photo by Kevin Korczyk.
Diamond Children’s Play Zone, Banner University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ. Photos by Kevin Korczyk.
In the media center, young children can disconnect with a theater–like experience. Adjacent to the media center is the teen zone designated for older kids where they can play pool and video games. The space is designed to be more closed off, giving teenagers quiet and space to be their authentic selves.
The art and science zone, the biggest area, features a large double-height space that is geared towards older children. The larger space is multi-purpose, can serve as an event space, and borders the exterior, offering an external connection to an outdoor play area. The natural light and connection to nature in this zone are design elements that are scientifically proven to promote healing. Additionally, we worked with local artists to select meaningful artwork inspired by the desert landscape.
Fostering Wellness
The Banner Play Zone is a space where wellness truly happens. Patients and staff were at the forefront of each consideration with details meticulously designed through the eyes of a child. From the safety of the type of wall hooks we utilized to the cleanliness of materials, we prioritized the children’s health and well-being. In the hospital, children are getting medical treatment that is both emotionally and physically draining for patients and their families. These spaces allow the children to distance themselves from the realities of the hospital, escaping to experience joy and be themselves.
Explore the Diamond Children’s Play Zone at Banner University Medical Center.
Kelsi Schwede, AIA, LEED GA
Senior Architect, Associate | Healthcare Planner
Kelsi is an architect and medical planner who advocates for creating healthcare spaces that work better for providers, patients, and families.