Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 67

environment, even without many peer facilities to guide design solutions.
Programmatic highlights include patient care rooms that support child-tocaregiver interaction, space for parent education and involvement, and a
kid-friendly scale for the center that serves children up to age 11.
The project was submitted to the Design Showcase by ESa (Earl Swensson Associates). Here, Justin Roark, senior design manager at ESa (Nashville, Tenn.) and lead designer on the project, shares his perspective on
some of the design elements jurors liked best.

Healthcare Design: Tell us how you approached siting the building
to use views, slope, etc., to your advantage.
Justin Roark: In the first meeting with the owner, before any detailed
programming began, we walked the site where leaders wished the building to be located. While walking through the thick wooded area, I envisioned children playing among the trees, and it took me back to my
childhood days. I can remember playing in the woods and exploring, creating, and enjoying the nature around me. With the only detailed component of the project established to date that the building would be for
special needs children, I thought what better than to let the site itself inspire the building form. And thus, the concept for a modern treehouse in
the woods was born. We knew the scale of a large building wouldn't fully
translate to a typical vision of a treehouse, so we aimed to create a scaled
version where one can interpret the vision of the sloped roof line of a
treehouse mixed with a modern glass box.

PHOTO CREDIT: © CHAD MELLON

How did you maintain the treehouse theme on the interiors while
also ensuring it was appropriate for the patient population?
We knew we didn't want to be literal with the treehouse concept, as it
could get overly distracting. We wanted to create childlike scale and a
place that felt like it was intentionally designed for children yet feels comfortable for the entire family. Through research and input from the director of the institute, Terri Woodruff, we learned that children on the autism
spectrum can be easily distracted and upset when faced with bright and
dramatic colors, fluorescent lighting, loud noises, crowds, and abstract
forms not easily recognizable. We aimed to create a simple balance of color and play, yet not overwhelm the children with busy foreign shapes and
colors they wouldn't be able to process.
One feature you can't miss is the tree-the jury loved it. Tell us about
the design process and how it was executed.
The overall design intent was for a focal point in the building to enhance
the levels of the forest by giving true scale to the volume within the
52-foot-high, three-story lobby. The only fitting solution was the idea of a
tree. Ultimately, Malone Design/Fabrication out of Decatur, Ga., was selected to design and build a tree scuplture.
The design process went through several renditions to refine the look
and feel as well as achieve structural stability and constructability. In coordination with the design team and contractor, Malone created a tree
sculpture composed of two main elements, a base tree structure and a
hanging mobile canopy. Factoring in installation and long-term maintenance, the design was finalized using a steel main frame structure
wrapped in foam and coated with a resin tree bark-like pattern for the tree
trunk and resin panels with custom leaf prints attached to the tree and
hung from the ceiling by cables.
This project represents the opportunity that exists to vastly improve behavioral health environments. What did you learn through
this process and what might other design teams take away from it?
I feel our team learned a great deal about how to create an environment

Waiting areas
are designed to
provide comfort
and reduce anxiety
for children on the
autism spectrum,
with hues of muted
grays and browns,
soft carpeting, and
subtle theming.

that balances a highly sensitive patient population with a calming design solution that enhances the treatment and care within. Not often does
a child or parent want to go to the doctor, but
we've heard feedback that they look forward to
their next appointment and are excited to "go to
the treehouse." As a healthcare architect, that's
what makes the challenges and stress worth it.
Specifically utilizing evidence-based design research around behavioral health design
proved beneficial, yet there's still not much
out there in the world of behavioral health design for children. We leaned heavily on the expert knowledge of the institute's director and
feedback directly from families in the community. We learned that not all behavioral health
is the same. Children are uniquely different
from adults and thus their treatment and the
built environment in which it's housed must be
unique.
My advice to my design colleagues would be
to listen, learn, and grow with their clients. You
need to be a part of the journey of creating the
building with them and not just for them. You
can be the expert in healthcare architecture,
but any expert will tell you there is always something to learn. I'd also tell them to be open to new
ideas and embrace your inner child. Children
like to explore, have space to play, and at times
find a quiet place to rest. Use your abilities to create a safe place for them, and they will use their
abilities to bring it to life.
For more on the project, see page 80.
Jennifer Kovacs Silvis is editor-in-chief of Healthcare
Design. She can be reached at J E N N I F E R .
S I LV I S @ E M E R A L D E X P O . C O M .

AUGUST 2019

67



Healthcare Design - August 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - August 2019

Healthcare Design - August 2019
Contents
EDITORIAL
SHOW TALK
OPENING UP
BALANCING ACT
MAKING A CONNECTION
PERSPECTIVE
PHOTO TOUR
USP 800 SPECIAL REPORT: HANDLE WITH CARE
GROWTH SPURT
MEET ING POINT
RESEARCH COMMON LANGUAGE
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT SURFACES
THE CENTER
WELCOME
2019 DESIGN SHOW CASE JURY/ AWARD WINNERS AND FINALISTS
HITTING THE MARK
AWARD OF MERIT: RISINGTO THE CHALLENGE
AWARD OF MERIT: VISIONARY NATURE
HONORABLE MENTION: COMPLEMENTARY CARE
HONORABLE MENTION: HOLISTIC HEALING
HONORABLE MENTION: THINKING BIG
STANDING OUT
PROJECT DIRECTORY
HEALTHCARE DESIGN SHOWCASE
FACE TIME
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - Intro
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - Healthcare Design - August 2019
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - Cover2
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 1
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 2
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - Contents
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 4
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 5
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 6
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 7
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 8
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 9
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 10
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - EDITORIAL
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - SHOW TALK
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 13
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 14
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - OPENING UP
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 16
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - BALANCING ACT
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - MAKING A CONNECTION
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - PERSPECTIVE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - PHOTO TOUR
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 21
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 22
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 23
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 24
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 25
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 26
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 27
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - USP 800 SPECIAL REPORT: HANDLE WITH CARE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 29
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 30
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 31
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 32
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 33
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 34
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 35
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - GROWTH SPURT
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 37
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 38
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 39
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 40
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 41
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 42
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 43
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - MEET ING POINT
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 45
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 46
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 47
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 48
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 49
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 50
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - RESEARCH COMMON LANGUAGE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 52
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 53
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 54
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT SURFACES
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 56
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 57
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - THE CENTER
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 59
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - WELCOME
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 61
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 2019 DESIGN SHOW CASE JURY/ AWARD WINNERS AND FINALISTS
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 63
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - HITTING THE MARK
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 65
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - AWARD OF MERIT: RISINGTO THE CHALLENGE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 67
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - AWARD OF MERIT: VISIONARY NATURE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 69
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - HONORABLE MENTION: COMPLEMENTARY CARE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - HONORABLE MENTION: HOLISTIC HEALING
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - HONORABLE MENTION: THINKING BIG
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 73
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - STANDING OUT
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 75
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 76
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 77
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - PROJECT DIRECTORY
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 79
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - HEALTHCARE DESIGN SHOWCASE
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 81
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 82
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 83
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 84
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 85
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 86
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 87
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 88
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 89
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 90
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 91
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 92
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 93
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 94
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 95
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 96
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 97
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 98
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 99
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 100
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 101
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 102
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 103
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 104
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 105
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 106
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 107
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 108
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 109
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 110
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 111
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 112
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 113
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 114
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 115
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 116
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 117
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 118
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 119
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 120
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 121
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 122
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 123
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 124
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 125
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 126
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 127
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 128
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 129
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 130
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 131
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 132
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 133
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 134
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - 135
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - FACE TIME
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - Cover3
Healthcare Design - August 2019 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/20230607
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/20220607
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/healthcaredesign/healthcare-design-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20200607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20190607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20180607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20160607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/healthcaredesign/201308
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com