Challenge
Rainbow has been at the forefront of newborn care since 1958 when the renowned Dr. Benjamin Spock began his child rearing research there, and continued through the next decade when Rainbow was one of the first hospitals to insist on parents being at the NICU bedside. Array was asked to reflect the Rainbow brand in the interior design as part of a 30,000 SF expansion to provide an all private room Level 3 NICU.
Solution
To promote a soothing, hopeful experience for all families, we led a series of visioning workshops culminating in the adoption of a design that extends the Rainbow brand by incorporating the various colors and elements of nature in the four nursing units: Flower, Sunshine, Raindrop and Butterfly. All are used as wayfinding icons to provide visual cues to families navigating to their unit. A water ribbon element embedded in the floor flows through each of the four pods.
Result
By incorporating artwork and elements of nature in our designs, we enhanced Rainbow’s well known brand while also introducing evidence-based design positive distractions to bring more comfort to families and caregivers in what is typically, a very stressful environment. A glass enclosed connector bridge to the main hospital provides a dramatic new front door to the expanded unit. Colored tile panels, museum-quality artwork and a glass-surround window seat area, offer a welcome respite for family members.
Collaborators
Barber & Hoffman
Gilbane Building Company
MCM Company
Parkin Architects
Smith Seckman Reid
Photo Credit: Scott Pease
Art Curator: Trudy Wiesenberger
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