The new recently completed Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto was designed by our friends at Perkins+Will, in collaboration with HGA, an integrated architecture and engineering firm, with a view towards realizing Packard Children’s future vision of itself as the nation’s most technologically advanced, eco- and family-friendly hospital for pediatrics and obstetrics. The center places a large emphasis on holistic healing, embracing ready views of and access to the outdoors, abundant natural light, and sustainable features such as water recovery and landscape irrigation, the use of recycled/reclaimed local materials, and an external shading system which reduces the need for air conditioning. Packard Children’s uses 38% less water and 60% less energy than an average Northern Californian hospital, and is on course for LEED Gold certification. All floors for patient cares feature outdoor patios with overlooks; a non-denominational sanctuary opens onto a healing garden for quiet meditation or prayer.
