May 28, 2025 _ insights

Navigating Pediatric Facility Design: Industry Leaders’ Insights

At the PDC Summit in Atlanta, GBBN was invited to join The Center for Health Design’s Pediatric Environment Network (PEN) and a multi-disciplinary panel of leaders in pediatric health environments to share innovative ideas, approaches, and unique case studies for pediatric healthcare design. Drawing from varied perspectives and experiences, the panel addressed several core topics during an interactive session.

These included:

The key takeaway from the discussion was not surprising: Change is constant.

Navigating the design of pediatric health facilities can be especially challenging when resources are limited and expectations are high. It is challenging to anticipate a future that is not yet fully known because this can lead to extra cost when budgets are tight. So how best to anticipate needs? Designing for flexibility is the best way to future proof facilities.

Additional takeaways:

Integrating Technology

Technologies, equipment needs, and support infrastructure are always evolving, but buildings can (and should!) last 50 years or more, so what’s the best way to plan for a future that isn’t fully known? From the design perspective, this means engaging the right stakeholders during the design process, including (but not limited to) stakeholders like hospital support staff, Information System/Information Technology, Health & Safety, and Infection Prevention. At GBBN, we have been leaning into a mockup and simulation process to test the new technology or protocol that helps test design scenarios. Construction walk-throughs and occupancy handbooks can help remind staff and stakeholders of the project’s goals, operations, and intended changes.

The Care Journey

A health system’s institutional branding, messaging, and guiding principles help set the stage for flexibility and adaptability. When these are descriptive rather than prescriptive, they help communicate how spaces should look and feel rather than define a specific product that will inevitably be discontinued over time. Additionally, it’s important to patients, families, and staff to understand what makes an environment feel more friendly or adaptive to what their needs are as they make their care journey in healthcare facilities.

Equitable access

What are fundamental design challenges to equitable access to health? Understanding the language and religious needs of the population being served is critical, but crafting an environment reflective of the children and families who visit your facilities helps as well. Do your patients and families see themselves in your environment? Convenience is also a factor. Bringing clinics closer to the populations they serve is especially impactful when it comes to pediatric behavioral health. Cost is another big driver for accessibility. Standardizing repetitive elements, co-locating specialties, and thoughtful programming can create efficiencies that can help keep costs down.

Read about our approach to pediatric healthcare spaces here.