Studies show that children in hospitals use up to 22 percent less pain medication when they have access to nature and views of the outdoors. This research served as the foundation and inspiration for landscape architecture and planning firm HGOR, which worked closely with HKS, Inc. to masterfully plan and design a new campus for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at the northeastern corner of North Druid Hills Road and I-85.
“After understanding the effects of the natural environment on the healing process, our goal was to place the hospital in a landscape, not on a landscape.”
Set to deliver in 2025, the new campus will span more than 70-acres in Brookhaven, Ga. This new state-of-the-art facility uses Georgia's natural palette to assist the needs of Children's patients, families and staff and will include gathering spaces, planted areas, water features, miles of walking paths and a variety of gardens providing spaces to recharge, socialize, eat and relax. In addition to the interactive elements, HGOR conceptualized a functioning landscape, which helps to filter storm water, improve the surrounding landscape and increase biodiversity throughout the campus.
"After understanding the effects of the natural environment on the healing process, our goal was to place the hospital in a landscape, not on a landscape to create a holistic, healing environment which preserves more than 20-acres of the site as a park-like campus," said HGOR principal Bob Hughes. "Atlanta is known as a 'City in a Forest,' and we are thrilled to extend that environment onto what will become a landmark pediatric healthcare campus."
For additional information about the project, please visit: www.choa.org/breakingnewground.