Thursday, April 30, 2015

CHOC

Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
By Yvette Alvarado

Fun and playful were key aspects in designing and achieving a successful children’s hospital in Orange County. The $558 million children’s tower II project at Children’s Hospital of Orange County was completed in 2013. The design features include fully equipped pediatric surgical suites, emergency, laboratory, pathology, and imaging services. Leading edge technology green design elements and strategically places areas for work, reflection and play were major factors in the design of the seven- story facility. Each floor has a different nature theme, as well as an individual color palette to go along with it. The hospital was committed to environmental responsibility and for that reason the designers (Inventure Design) made sure to reflect that in their design and interior space. Some of the sustainable products include green roofing materials to reduce the emissions of volatile organic compounds. It provides the long-term environmental benefits that building owners and managers are seeking for their high-performance commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. A green roof is cool because it has high reflectivity and emissivity values that reduce the amount of heat transferred into a building. This translates into reduced energy costs and increased comfort level and productivity for building occupants. Green roofing was a smart choice in the design of this hospital. Different concepts were applied to each floor of the building to give it an earthy feel. The designers created a concept that allowed guest to feel as they were traveling up towards the earth as they approached upper levels of the building. Beginning with a beach theme at the bottom and making their way to outer space towards the top.
                              

                   
http://jtpaint.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ChildrensHospitalofOrangeCounty.jpg

Other products used in the design of this building include motion sensing lighting, low emitting insulating glass panels, water efficient landscaping, a water filtration management system, and an abundant use and optimization of natural light. As you enter the lobby guest can see the horizontal color bands with color lighting shining through. Mosaic tiles behind the reception desk create a waterfall effect in that area and throughout the building. The mosaic tiles give the space a fresh and appealing look. A lot of the design in this building is meant to give off a soothing and almost healing affect to its patients, and I think that the mosaic tiles helped in that sense.
Inventure design image/ motion sense lighting


A design concept known as way finding was a key element to help guide in the direction of the building.
Inventure design image/ wayfinding

         Wayfinding encompasses all of the ways in which people orient themselves in physical space and navigate from place to place. As seen in the image above, the designers portrayed this concept extremely well. Wayfinding, in my opinion, is a successful tool to help children and parents ease their way throughout the space.  Insulated glass paneling is double or triple glass window panes separated by a vacuum or other gas filled space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building. This feature helped the building become environmentally friendly and most importantly cool. In the image below a person can see the insulated glass panels used in the patients rooms. I think that this is a highly effective strategy for commercial building worldwide, especially a hospital due to the fact that it must remain at a low temperature throughout the year to help reduce the spreading of germs. It also helps the hospital save in their electrical bill and is energy saving.


Motion sense lighting was also incorporated throughout the space to help reduce costs and help promote energy efficient design. As represented in the image below we can see the motion sense lighting throughout the space. Tower II also was sure to include and use abundant natural light by including larger glass window panels and entry ways.  

Different wall, flooring and ceiling finishes were incorporated in the design to keep it sustainable and playful for children. Rubber flooring made from tires was used in this playroom as shown below to help minimize impact on children as they play due to the fact that they are prone to accidents. I believe this is a very effective and considerate aspect in the flooring. I would personally expect most hospitals with children’s play rooms to incorporate this in their design.


Overall, I feel as though the new current design and architecture of this structure was done exceptionally well. Inventure Design did a beautiful and efficient job to help make a difficult space playful and soothing to guests and patients.

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