Healing through play: design for pediatric wellness
Diamond Children’s Play Zone
Banner University Medical Center
Tucson, AZ
The new Play Zone reimagines a hospital lobby into a multi-sensory, interactive environment. Designed to extend the impact of the Child Life Program, the space provides an art-driven, supportive, and enriching experience for children from 18-months to 18-years and their families.
Following several updates to its hospital program in Tucson, Banner University Medical Center transformed a dated lobby into a vibrant play therapy space for the Child Life Program. Our design team collaborated closely with stakeholders to creatively address the program’s unique needs, delivering an engaging and supportive experience for pediatric patients and their families.
The new Play Zone provides a comforting, healing space for pediatric patients of all ages. Conceived as an artistic journey through the Tucson landscape, a 50-foot-long mural welcomes visitors and guides them from sunrise to sunset, setting the stage for exploration.
Warm colors and graphics foster a comforting environment, transitioning to cooler tones in the multi-purpose space to promote calm and focus.
The Play Zone is organized by medical function and age, ensuring each patient receives the personalized attention they need. Key spaces include a toddler zone with interactive murals and age-appropriate toys, and a teen room with a pool table, gaming console, and media room.
A holistic extension of the Child Life Program, the space offers a mental and physical respite from the clinical environment. A medical playroom provides patients with the opportunity to learn about their treatments through play. Using dolls and diagrams, this room transforms hospital visits into moments of joy, discovery, and healing.
Specialized spaces allow for individualized care within this educational and enriching environment. A sensory room is available for patients, equipped with LED sensory lights, an interactive fiber optic light display, a cushioned bench, and tactile, interactive items to help patients deescalate their feelings.
The Play Zone culminates in a space inspired by the aurora borealis, invoking a sense of wonder and tranquility. This immersive art experience creates a cohesive environment that supports the healing and well-being of pediatric patients. More than a play area, the two-story volume is programmed as an art and science space, fostering inclusion, creativity, and collaboration.