Healthcare Design - December 2022 - 38

REMODEL/RENOV ATION COMPETITION
SILVER WINNER
The Children's Place
Kansas City, Mo.
SUBMITTED BY: HOK (KANSAS CITY, MO.)
JURY COMMENTS:
* Thoughtful placemaking
and intuitive design
interventions give life
and hope to an otherwise
dreary existing building.
Combination of lighting,
materials, and graphics
allow for a warm
DESIGN TEAM:
BEFORE
HOK (architecture,
interior design,
experience design,
landscape &
planning); Centric
Projects (contractor);
Benson Method
(owners rep);
Henderson (MEP
engineering); Area
Real Estate Advisors
(real estate advisors)
COST PER SQUARE
FOOT:
$198
IN 2016, THE CHILDREN'S PLACE, a specialized
trauma treatment agency for the community's
most vulnerable residents (children under the
age of 8), sought a new home. Early visioning and
integration of the owner/developer/architect/
contractor ensured the collaboration necessary
to select a site and building that will allow for
an environment that transforms the traditional
appearance and performance of mental health
treatment centers.
Mental health facilities often have a very
institutional approach, and it was imperative
to create a welcoming, collaborative, and
transformational environment where children
and families feel safe, supported, valued,
loved, healthy, and healed. Understanding this,
the design team worked to develop a new approach.
The design provided visual and physical
security while incorporating daylight and
exterior views utilizing existing windows. Intuitive
wayfinding designed for children allows
for a sense of belonging. Spaces were designed
to be flexible to respond to fluctuating needs of
the community while still creating a consistent
38
appearance. Many children do not have the
ideal homelike experience, so each classroom
provided a 'front porch,' 'living room,' 'back
porch,' and 'backyard.' The branded environment
brought to life a hopeful, welcoming,
inclusive sense of place with
playful color, warm language,
and recognizable iconography.
During construction, the site
became lovingly known as 'The
Perfect Trauma Building'. Substantial
exterior cracks, structural
issues, and theft of mechanical
equipment began to surface. As
all the various layers of neglect
this building had experienced
became exposed, the entire project
team worked hand in hand to
resolve issues to keep the project
moving forward to help this building
to heal. Since opening at the
end of 2020, the nonprofit has been able to serve
30 percent more children and families in a more
welcoming and functionally integrative manner.
DECEMBER 2019 / SUPPLEMENT TO HEALTHCARE DESIGN
DECEMBER 2022 / SUPPLEMENT TO HEALTHCARE DESIGN
PHOTOS (AFTER):
Michael Robinson
Photography
FIRM CONTACT:
(816) 472-3360
hok.com/projects/
view/the-childrensplace/
atmosphere
while being
sensitive to children's
personal experiences
through carefully
planned elements in the
classroom. The infill of
an empty space between
the buildings created
new, functional area for
the program.
* Cost effective, focused
on warmth and caring,
yet functional spaces.
Excellent floor plan
flow by creating and
connecting existing
buildings and
transforming them
into functional and
inviting spaces.
* Very nice environment
for children. The concept
of the front door, living
room, back porch, and
back yard integrating
education with play is
phenomenal!
* The team delivered an
impactful renovation
within a limited budget,
even in the face of
unforeseen building
issues and deficiencies.
BEFORE
http://www.hok.com/projects/view/the-childrens-place/
Healthcare Design - December 2022

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