With a focus on bolstering critical care and accommodating an increased number of patients, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital sought to expand their world-class facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Gresham Smith provided architecture, interior design, structural, and civil engineering services for a five-story, 128,000-square-foot addition, which triples patient capacity. The space is home to a new 31-bed cardiovascular intensive care unit, an expanded 70-bed Level IV neonatal intensive care unit, a post-anesthesia care unit that features eight new bays, a blood bank, and the state of Tennessee’s first MRI-guided cardiac catheterization lab.

The interior design was inspired by the Mississippi River, which runs through the heart of Memphis, and its surroundings. Shades of blue nod to water while shades of green point towards local landscapes and native foliage. Pops of coral and orange are selectively applied to add depth to the space. The elevated courtyard and amenity spaces are anchored with soft neutrals reminiscent of the river’s shorelines and accented with full spectrum pops of color. The courtyard not only offers a place of respite but also provides space for physical rehabilitation exercises. The space also features local art installations, which was a top priority since the hospital houses hundreds of local works.

In patient rooms, seamless headwalls camouflage medical equipment and feature backlit constellation patterns to provide a positive distraction. Private bathrooms and large seating areas provide comfort for family members, and observation windows enable nurses to monitor patients without disruption.

The first in the state of Tennessee, MRI-guided cardiac catheterization lab streamlines imagery and procedures, facilitating safer patient care with less time spent under anesthesia. The space also enables teaching and information sharing; an adjacent monitor room can broadcast cardiac procedures to doctors and hospitals around the world, and the lab can also be used by physicians to practice procedures using virtual reality.

Design: Gresham Smith
MEP Engineering: Smith Seckman Reid
Contractor: Turner Construction
Photography: Chad Baumer Photography