In recognition of their indispensable contributions, patients who watched the building grow from their windows, teams who had a say in the design, and many staff who are excited for the hope it will bring to critically ill children signed a piece of our future—a 10-foot, steel beam. A week later, the beam was installed in what is known as a “topping off” ceremony.
Our Transition Planning Team Kept Us on Track
“Transitioning into the new building is a monumental undertaking, with hundreds of moving pieces and collaboration across many units and specialties,” said Wendy Bankes, senior director, Planning. “We’re fortunate to have a strong internal team and an experienced partner, Covalus—a company that specializes in complex transitions like this one—to help ensure a successful project.”
Even before we broke ground, the team was hard at work to address moving patients and families, training and orienting employees, loading the building, keeping everybody updated, continually seeking input and feedback from patients, families, and surrounding communities, and considering countless other details related to the design, construction, and relocation. And they had to do all that planning with the knowledge that it was critical that operations didn’t stop while they were moving from the current building to Location G.
Artwork Was Chosen for Inspiration and Function
Many of our patients and their families come into our care at a critical and stressful time in their lives, so we wanted to create an environment of hope and inspiration. Students, local artists, staff, patients, and families contributed more than 1,100 unique pieces of art in Location G, including the Fountain of Life mural in the lobby.
Families will acclimate to the new building using artistic wayfinding “friends” -- animals that help families remember how to get to their room and find what they need in Location G. And with large kaleidoscope installations that act as interactive landmarks on each patient floor, families have fun ways to find their way around.
Touches Such as the Giraffe Sculpture Tie It All Together
A sculpture of two giraffes—a mother and baby—adorns the concourse of the new building. Giraffes were chosen to correspond with the building’s name, Location G. The giraffes continue a theme already in place in other parts of Burnet campus—sculptures of armadillos, birds, caterpillars and dinosaurs—each installed in corresponding Locations A through D.
We Tested Our Designs to Continually Ensure We Were on the Right Path
As part of the construction process, the planning team rented a warehouse where they mocked up three fully furnished rooms to test durability and run clinical scenarios. The simulation approach enabled stakeholders (including families) and employees across all disciplines to help the team quickly identify improvements, such as the location of the mobile lift in the patient restroom and the height of a supply pass-through. It also saved Cincinnati Children’s an estimated $10 million in post-build changes.
Share this page
Go to the next article
Extraordinary Collaboration Brings Location G Vision to Life (cont.)
