-By Holly Richmond, Photography by Eckert and Eckert

Founded in 1908 and consistently ranked among the top 10 children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, The Children's Hospital (TCH) of Denver, is celebrating its centennial in a big way. The new 1.44-million-sq.-ft. facility is state of the art, with "art" being front and center. "Our mission was to create a healing hospital, not merely a treatment hospital," states Jerrod Milton, TCH's vice president of operations. "This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to do our best, and our best focused on the art of healing."

Designed by Portland, Ore.-based Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF), the building is situated on 48 acres of The University of Colorado, Denver Anschutz Medical Campus. The primary objective was to combine the natural beauty of the region, including vistas of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, with cutting-edge technology to benefit patients, their families, and the 5,000-plus staff who use the facility daily. Considering that TCH houses 270 patient beds (232 of which are private rooms), outpatient clinics, specialized services including oncology and neonatology, as well as business offices, research and education spaces, and ample parking, the task was no small undertaking.

Sharron van der Meulen, ZGF principal and lead interior designer, explains that her team created a list of guiding principles to inform every decision within the design process by relying on focus groups, shadowing experiences, color theory, and the work of local artisans. Their research led to the development of five unique color palettes that formed the backbone of the project's interiors. Each of the palettes—Community, Social, Spirited, Tranquil, and Work—is influenced by the colors associated with Colorado geography, plant, and animal life, and was selected for its ability to promote healing. The color palettes are, in turn, applied to program elements where their impact is most beneficial. For example, the Community Palette includes familiar, primary colors and is used in circulation zones, while the Social Palette, present in the cafeteria and teen lounge, relies on bold tones and splashes of Colorado imagery. The Tranquil Palette is quiet and calming and is applied to intensive care areas, respite spaces, and the chapel. "We had to deconstruct the clinical side of healthcare and discover a route to patient wellness focused on the healing qualities of design, nature, and art, and how these can be applied to family centered care," van der Meulen adds.

TCH's focal point, the six-story Boettcher Atrium greets visitors with an animated presence and serves as the public living room. Copious glass introduces light to the heart of the building while providing a clear reference point for the arrangement of medical services and family amenities. Utilizing the Spirited Palette, comprised of bold, tropical colors like turquoise, magenta, and apple green, the space features a terrazzo floor, designed by Denver artist Carolyn Braaksma. Butterflies, snowflakes, birds, and a variety of familiar shapes form a maze that spans the entire atrium floor space. "Kids absolutely love it," quips Milton. "There are subtle, embedded images that constantly create a sense of discovery. It's kind of like an enormous I Spy book."

While the terrazzo floor is a hit with kids, it was also important for the art used throughout TCH to be ageless—appealing to young children, adolescents, and their families. In addition to Braaksma's work, renowned local artists Larry Kirkland and photographer John Fielder also contributed to the facility. Kirkland produced seven 20-ft.-by-30-ft. glass panels on the east atrium wall, while Fielder's natural imagery is repeated on carpet tile in the cafeteria. "I almost hate to call it a 'cafeteria,'" chuckles van der Meulen. "The attention to art and design paired with deliciously healthy food takes it above and beyond what we typically find in hospitals today."

The careful consideration of amenities continues throughout TCH from family suites complete with laundry facilities, to a research library, gelato/espresso bar, business center, and a 3,000-sq.-ft. "teen hot spot" with a movie theater, music room, and kitchenette. Furthermore, based on extensive research including an initial benchmarking process, the patient rooms meet every need—technically, functionally, and aesthetically—that staff, patients, and their families may require. Each room has a sleeping sofa, which was custom designed in collaboration with Nemschoff furniture to accommodate two family members. Additionally, adequate storage for personal belongings, a 30-in. flat-screen television, Internet access, on-demand movies, and an X-Box are readily available, as are full private baths. "We take great pride in our dedication to family-centered care," Milton remarks. "It is important for families to stay together not just for the patient, but for everyone's well-being."

For its part, ZGF takes pride in the facility's functional beauty that seamlessly merges quality healthcare and the natural, artistic world. "Every aspect of the design fulfills the mission we set for it," says van der Meulen, though she prefers to measure success by people's reactions. She recalls the story of a little girl, who after spending six hours at TCH undergoing a minor surgical procedure, decided she was not ready to race home. "She told her mom that she wanted to get a popsicle and spend some time in the atrium. I can't imagine anything that spells success more than that," she concludes.