By Healthcare Facilities Today

Walking the halls of the new expansion of MultiCare Health System’s Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital and Health Center in Tacoma, Wash., it’s easy to think you're in an art gallery, according to an article on the Medical Construction & Design magazine website.

The 52,000-square-foot addition—designed was deigned by HDR Architecture with interior architecture developed with Bainbridge of Portland opened its doors in June. Built on top of a five-story structure and surrounded by the Multicare Health System campus,  HDR was asked to design a children’s hospital expansion that didn't look like a children’s hospital.

“The expansion is a part of an existing building that serves both adults and children, so the design needed to be appropriate for all ages. Instead of creating a whimsical exterior, as is typically done when designing children’s hospitals, we created a playful interior that highlights the landmarks and life found in and around Washington’s Puget Sound — a theme people across the age spectrum can enjoy,” said Peter Damento, senior designer in HDR’s Seattle office in the article.

The design team worked with Kimberly Kent Art Brokerage. After reviewing multiple submissions, 14 local artists were commissioned to create works of art ranging from expansive tiled-mural walls to 30-foot-long mixed media paintings and colorful glass installations, the article said.

“Though the artwork found in the expansion would be stunning anywhere, its place in a children’s hospital is extremely significant. It acts as a positive distraction for children and parents who are enduring high-stress situations, and whose spirits are often low. Even though most patients are restricted to staying inside the building, the artwork—in a way—transports them outside to spaces they know and love,” said Andrea Bainbridge, principal at Bainbridge, in the article.

Read the article and view the images.