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Kasian leads design of Alberta's new children's hospital
The new Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH), which opened in mid-September 2006, has become an instant design benchmark thanks to its unique child-friendly design approach, lead by prime consultant Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning Ltd. As one of Canada’s leading integrated architecture and interior design firms, Kasian’s experience in health care design is helping ACH set a new standard in family-centred care - care that offers the ideal patient and family experience, creating and delivering the most advanced pediatric care hospital in North America.
The goal was to develop a functional, efficient, flexible and expandable hospital providing true family centered care. Children, parents, community, doctors and hospital staff were consulted,
and the solution was created using a child’s point-of-view; a hospital for children, designed by
children.
Kasian involved 38 stakeholder groups throughout the planning, one being the
construction management team. As a result, they delivered the project months ahead of
schedule and millions of dollars under budget.
Final designs for the facility featured bright colours and large windows, rooms with pull-out beds and ensuites, several play-therapy rooms, a sunroom for patients who cannot go outside, a music / art studio, a visiting room for pets and six healing gardens.
Several factors designed to enhance the healthcare experience have been incorporated into the design. Joining inpatient and outpatient services provides single point for chronic-disease
management and has been well received by oncology. Principals of evidence-based design are used throughout the building, even to the extent that surgeries have windows for natural light.
A heated parkade, given the often severe Canadian winters, is appreciated by families with
children in strollers and wheelchairs.
The exterior bright colours and large windows appear less overwhelming for
children, while having just one entrance to the hospital allows visitors to find the information they need more efficiently.
The process of extensive child, family and community involvement has resulted in them
expressing a feeling of pride and ownership in the hospital.
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