Case Stories

Challenge

The HMN Architects focused their efforts during the design process on facilitating the family experience. Because the project is a prenatal/pediatric hospital, it was essential for the designers to feature a playful, lighthearted aesthetic that would downplay the clinical severity apparent in traditional hospital design. Construction Specialties (CS) interior wall protection products were chosen for their wide array of vivid colors and durable performance, for which CS is known. Another major design goal was to make the building resilient to ensure a worry-free workplace for everyday staff. “We selected new CS wall product offerings due to their durability and easily cleanable fine grain textures,” said Amy Higgins, an interior designer at HMN. “Making sure the design lasts for the long haul is definitely something we tried to incorporate.”

Solution

The new Elizabeth Ann Hall Patient Tower at Children’s Mercy Hospital officially opened in mid-2012 and received LEED® certification in February 2013. Due to the large-scale nature of this healthcare project, the standardization of construction materials was essential; therefore, several products from CS were used, including wall guards, rigid sheet, corner guards and handrails. In addition to several standard colors, CS rigid sheet material was chosen in a variety of custom colors, including Peony, Tangelo and Purple Haze, creating an interior environment that is vibrant and family-friendly while maintaining a high degree of resilience and functionality. All standard colors of CS interior wall protection products are Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold or Silver, providing assurance to architects, construction crews and everyday visitors that they contain no potentially hazardous chemicals as well as a worry-free environment for patients and staff.