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ICU Design Citation Award
The Wallace Critical Care Complex
The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Dayton, OH
Commitment to creating a healing environment
The elements of nature, compassion, comfort and family are key to creating the healing environment in this critical care unit at Dayton Children’s. The previously crowded, noisy unit was renovated to provide private patient rooms. The subtle greens, blues and yellows of the color palette work together with the artwork to create a soothing place. To control noise levels, special ceiling tiles were used throughout the unit; sound-reducing insulation was used in the walls; and the nurses’ stations were all carpeted. A meditation room with a healing waterfall is available for families and staff. The home-like family lounge has a fireplace, a kitchen complete with a full refrigerator and oven for baking cookies, laundry facilities, restrooms and shower.
A local artist was commissioned to create artwork depicting a nature-woods theme. A large mural was painted on an outside brick wall, in every patient room, on each patient room number and on tiles on the nurses’ stations. A large mural was also painted at the entry to the PICU. For each patient room to be seen as an individual cottage, each room is rotated at varying degrees and then painted in alternating colors. This also keeps the long corridor from looking so sterile and institutional. All of this is done subtly and figuratively so that it is not too “cute” or infantile. “Critter footprint” ceiling tiles in each patient room give the feeling of an animal that has scurried across the ceiling.
Since the critical care unit at Dayton Children’s opened in June 2006, the response has been overwhelmingly positive from patients, families and staff. The commitment from our visionary team to a creative, responsive design to enhance the quality of life and support families and employees has already shown measurable success.
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