The Theme-Driven Design of a Children’s Hospital

Next month at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo, hear Leon Drachman, A. Craig Hillemeier, M.D., Gil S. Pak and Laura Poltronieri speak on the topic of Theme-Driven Design at the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Children’s Hospital.

Few institutions have the opportunity to invent a hospital environment exclusively dedicated to children of all ages and their families. Beyond the mere introduction of “kid-friendly” decorative elements in their facilities, over the past decade children’s hospitals have started to utilize comprehensive design strategies in the design of new or renovated facilities. We call these “Integrating Theming.” The process to develop and implement this approach is fundamentally different than the conventional design process, as it affects basic programming, design and management decisions throughout the process. Starting with an overview of recent trends and approaches to Theming in children’s hospitals, presenters will offer different perspectives on the application of Integrated Theming through a case study of a major new children’s hospital in Pennsylvania.

Presentation Day & Date: Wednesday, October 2nd, 2013
Presentation Time: 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Who are the speakers?
Leon Drachman received his BArch from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and his MAUD from Harvard. Since his arrival in 1998, Leon has led the design of several of PAYETTE’s major teaching, research and healthcare projects, including the laboratory renovation for the Schepens Eye Research Institute, which won an AIA Honor Award for Interior Architecture. He brings particular skill to the crafting of public space, such as for the recently-completed Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Cancer Institute. Leon was named partner in 2006.

A. Craig Hillemeier, M.D. is Professor and Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Children’s Hospital.  He is Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs of the Penn State College of Medicine and Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Group.  Dr. Hillemeier also serves as Chair on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Pediatrics.

Gil Pak is a seasoned healthcare administrator with 18 years of experience in both payer and provider environments.  With a degree in Economics from Drew University and a Masters of Health Administration from The Pennsylvania State University, he currently serves as the Operations Director of Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Children’s Hospital.  Over the last few years he has also had the responsibility of overseeing the planning, building, and move into a new free-standing children’s hospital facility on the campus of the Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.  

Laura Poltronieri, AIA is founding principal of Poltronieri Tang & Associates, a firm dedicated exclusively to the planning and design of children’s healthcare facilities.  Her firm’s work strives to develop playful, functional, humane, and inspiring pediatric environments. Clients include many leading children’s hospitals nationwide, such as Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital, St Louis Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Children’s Hospital.  She speaks frequently at both national and international conferences regarding pediatric healthcare design issues.  She has written and presented extensively on this subject, and her firm also sponsors pediatric specific evidence based design research.