October 20, 2008 04:38 PM Eastern Daylight Time 

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and Stanford Hospital Unveil Future of Medicine

STANFORD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital today presented their vision for the future of medicine in Palo Alto. The special event to unveil designs for the expansion of Packard Children's Hospital and development of the new Stanford Hospital was hosted by President and CEO of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Christopher Dawes and President and CEO of Stanford Hospital & Clinics Martha Marsh.

Today's unveiling marks an exciting milestone in advancing the hospitals' plans to build for the future, increase capacity to meet the healthcare needs of the community and comply with State-mandated earthquake safety standards.

The designs were presented by renowned architects William Pedersen of Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF) for Packard Children's Hospital and Rafael Viñoly of Rafael Viñoly Architects for Stanford Hospital at a reception hosted by the CEOs for invited guests at the Garden Court Hotel in downtown Palo Alto.

The reception showcased the visions for the two medical institutions, displaying models and renderings of innovative designs that will transform the experience of patients, families, medical professionals and staff by creating a sustainable healing environment, fostering interdisciplinary discovery and education, and improving care and outcomes for patients everywhere.

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Expansion

Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is expanding in order to meet growing community needs for specialized pediatric and obstetric care. The 104-bed addition is being designed by KPF to promote family-centered care and create a welcoming, safe environment.

“The innovation of KPF’s design is clear,” said Christopher Dawes, President and CEO at Packard Children’s. “Not only have they addressed our very critical capacity issues, but they’ve also taken our reputation for child and family-friendly care to the next level. It’s an environment that embraces safety, comfort and privacy, all components in the extraordinary healing journey we have built our reputation around. These buildings also meet the technology needs of our patients, families and staff, and set a new standard for advancements in sustainability. We’re proud and impressed with this design.”

The design motivation centers on the unique "journey" that addresses the needs of pediatric and obstetric patients and their families. The journey begins at the "Explorer's Pavilion," a welcoming environment with information and patient services right at the front door. The public "trail" along the garden leads families to their destinations and sanctuaries, either as inpatients, outpatients or visitors.

Single-patient rooms are envisioned as the "nest," and all have provisions for families to stay in the room with the patient. Places of respite, such as the "treehouses" that view the garden and exterior "overlooks" are provided throughout the building. All patient areas are accessible to natural light and key departments are co-located for easy access and movement.

“KPF is proud and honored to be part of such a wonderful project that will provide a place of comfort for Packard Children’s precious patients,” said William Pedersen, FAIA, Kohn Pedersen Fox. “As waves emanate from a stone tossed into a tranquil pool, our design is influenced by nature radiating from a healing garden placed between architecture which represents the present and the future of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.”

The New Stanford Hospital

Stanford Hospital selected the internationally recognized firm of Rafael Viñoly Architects to realize the potential of designing a new hospital from the ground up at one of the nation's leading medical centers.

Featuring modular pavilions adaptable for medical and technological advances that cannot even be imagined today, the 600-bed hospital is being designed to ensure flexibility for the future.

The vision for the new Stanford Hospital is to create a healing environment that will care for the whole person, addressing emotional, social and physical needs. Combining Silicon Valley innovation with Stanford’s track record of translating new discoveries into patient care, the new hospital will provide a facility commensurate with Stanford’s clinical excellence.

“We are thrilled to have reached this major milestone in creating the new Stanford Hospital,” said President and CEO Martha Marsh. “Rafael Viñoly has brought creativity and innovation to translating our vision, as well as future flexibility to assure that these exciting facilities will keep pace with rapid advances in medicine and technology.”

Viñoly describes the design goal of the new Stanford Hospital as redefining the model of a healing environment in order to promote quality patient care, practitioner and staff achievement, and sustainability. Light-filled corridors with views to the foothills and beyond, as well as extensive use of gardens and outdoor courtyards, will bring nature into the healing process and provide an uplifting atmosphere for everyone.

The design includes a central courtyard and roof gardens that will re-establish the tradition of the Stanford campus by integrating the landscape within the new building. A sloped courtyard with a prominent water feature organizes public circulation on the lower levels and brings natural light into the center of each floor. Accessible roof gardens surround a unique public floor that contains family and staff amenities.

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to engage in a project that means so much to so many,” said Rafael Viñoly. “We are challenging outdated conventions in hospital design to establish a new architectural identity for Stanford Hospital that will allow it to continue to provide outstanding care for its community as well as innovate and develop treatments that will benefit communities the world over.”

Stanford University Medical Center has submitted a formal application to the City of Palo Alto for the Renewal Project. The City of Palo Alto is conducting the required Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process, which includes multiple opportunities for public comment. Phased construction is scheduled to begin in 2010. For more information about the project, please visit: www.stanfordpackard.org.

About Stanford Hospital & Clinics

Stanford Hospital & Clinics is known worldwide for advanced treatment of complex disorders in areas such as cardiac care, cancer treatment, neurosciences, surgery, and organ transplants. Ranked #16 on the U.S. News & World Report annual list of “America’s Best Hospitals,” Stanford Hospital & Clinics is internationally recognized for translating medical breakthroughs into the care of patients. The Hospital is part of the Stanford University Medical Center, along with the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford. For more information, visit: www.stanfordhospital.com.

About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

Ranked as one of the best pediatric hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 272-bed hospital devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally, regionally and nationally the full range of health-care programs and services from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious illness and injury. For more information, visit: www.lpch.org.