Making use of the vernacular gable-roof form, cementitious fiber panels, and translucent glazing, a design was composed that would heighten the feeling of comfort to the initial patient approach. Built on a tight budget, Kalwall lightwall was used to create the translucent effect that enlivens the facade.
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Methodist Le Bonheur Children’s hospital has been serving the west Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi areas for over 50 years, seeking to be the choice provider for children and families in the region. As they gradually outgrew their Jackson, TN location, their focus shifted to create a more functional and visible facility to serve their continually increasing breadth of patients. A site directly off the busy 1-40 interstate corridor proved to be a choice that was easily accessible and high-visibility.
The site is surrounded by suburban homes, big box retailers, and car dealerships, making it a necessity for the Outpatient center to stand out amongst the beige, cookie-cutter forms. brg3s Architects and Bottletree Design Group partnered with Le Bonheur to create a space with a minimal budget, The design goals of the pediatric outpatient center were to take an extremely minimal budget and echo the traditional formal language of the surrounding area’s built context while simultaneously giving the building a greater presence from I-40.
Making use of the vernacular gable-roof form, cementitious fiber panels, and translucent glazing, a design was composed that would heighten the feeling of comfort to the initial patient approach. The apex of the gable defines the main gallery and waiting function, which acts as the structure’s spine separating the Administrative and Clinical areas. On the clinic side 26 exam rooms are organized along 3 color coded corridors creating a simple circulation path from the gallery and check-in to the exam rooms.
Le Bonheur is also known for integrating artwork throughout their clinics and hospitals. brg3s collaborated early on with Memphis-based artist Tylur French to commission some installations that would function specifically within the space, creating a seamless balance between art and architecture. Stepping inside, the visitor is greeted by an open, two-story gallery and waiting room, blanketed with diffused natural light and dappled with splashes of color within the recessed waiting areas. Suspended from the ceiling are flocks of whimsical avian mobiles, some of Tylur’s custom creations.
The building all-together seeks to make the visit comfortable and stress-free for patients and their families. A beautiful and functional space will reduce anxiety aiding in swift physical, mental, and emotional recovery. The new Jackson area Le Bonheur Children’s Outpatient Center continues to set precedents as the ever evolving face of children’s healthcare.
