Remodeling existing operational hospital space is a challenge for any team. This project transforms space within the University of Utah’s Women’s & Children’s Inpatient Nursing Services unit to provide a state-of-the-art newborn intensive care unit.
A key component of the project was the new waiting area and a Ronald McDonald Family Space (RMFS) for parents and family members. The RMFS space was created in response to research that shows parents of infants in intensive care have greater risk for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress. The design approach focused on creating a space to help the parents of NBICU patients get the physical and emotional respite they need without having to be more than one minute away from their newborn.