Distinctive Art Source
Goals
To engage children and their families in an artful journey of delight and discovery as they explore the Specialty Care Center. Imaginative art elements integrate building design with on-brand wayfinding to create a whimsical environment that helps distract patients from the clinical side of their visit while creating memories to set the stage for successful return visits and improved outcomes.
Challenges
The art challenge for the Specialty Care Center was to continue Dayton Children's branded whimsical art direction in a fresh manner that incorporated artful interior and exterior sensory experiences from parking lot entry to building exit. It was also important to create a unique and highly visible building identity to help families easily navigate to the new outpatient clinic locations. Continuing the seamless integration of art, design, and wayfinding while providing discovery and joy was a must
Solution
A multi-level mosaic art wall creates a mesmerizing backdrop for the oversized flower and raindrop sculptures hanging overhead. Opalescent tiles splash colorful movement across the entry and family gathering areas on Levels 2 - 5, while dichroic flower petals and raindrops generate ever-changing color shadows. Being at eye level with the suspended flowers in upper-level family gathering spaces allows visitors to enjoy the whimsical scale and color from multiple perspectives.
The public staircase has a glass curtain wall view into a 4-season sensory garden. A large-scale play sculpture invites visitors to enter the sensory garden featuring critters and color-changing dichroic panels. The garden indoor/outdoor sculpture and the suspended flower sculptures share content, materials, and color experiences while the stair headwall floats light-ringed icon medallions and a sculptured flower overhead. Art elements, graphics, wayfinding, and finishes interlace creating continuous whimsical experiences before and after appointments.
Custom wall-sized Dayton Children-centric graphics, by Carpenter Design, set the artful tone on all levels. Deliberate brand colors and stylized versions of wayfinding icons greet visitors as they step off the elevator. Art Selections closely complement wayfinding elements in color, content, and placement.
Intentional sensory integration is initiated through design and art experiences. DAS worked directly with Dayton Children’s Leadership, Child Life Specialists, and Champlin Architecture to define multiple sensory touchpoints that would help children and their families experience improved expectations and outcomes.
Intentional sensory integration is initiated through design and art experiences. DAS worked directly with Dayton Children’s Leadership, Child Life Specialists and Champlin Architecture to define multiple sensory touchpoints that would help children and their families experience improved expectations and outcomes.
Key Findings, Measurable Results &/or Next Steps
After many discussions, surveys, and product reviews, DAS interlaced a variety of art-based sensory solutions in clinical spaces to further support architecturally integrated sensory elements in public areas. Child-sized nooks in waiting areas provide pre-exam quiet zones while exam rooms feature marble walls, touch/sound sensitive lights, and space-themed activity wall panel experiences now improve expectations and outcomes.
Project Collaborators
- CannonDesign
- Carpenter Design
- Roto Studios
- Exhibit Concepts
- Artaic
- Kasey Montegue
- Amber Stefani, Amber Lights, UK
Link to Published Articles
- Take A Tour of Dayton Children's Hospital
- Dayton Children’s new specialty care center welcomes its first children
- Dayton Children’s completes specialty care center
