NMMC Women's Hospital

When the design of a new second floor NICU required construction to span over the existing hospital’s outdoor areas it created two awkward zones of covered outdoor space. It quickly became clear that with some innovative thinking these “leftover” areas could become beneficial spaces for patients and visitors, as-well-as, key wayfinding elements for the entire hospital. Two 5,000 sf courtyards were developed with very different themes. The “Memorial Courtyard” located near the Med/Surgery unit was designed to evoke a claiming tranquil atmosphere where patients and visitors can get away from the clinical environment. In contrast, the “Celebration Courtyard” positioned near the well baby nursery is a celebratory environment using a more open plaza design where children are free to run and play.