Interview with HGOR Project Manager, Jarred Beall, to discuss Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s North Druid Hills Campus.

Q: What is your role with Children’s at HGOR?

A: I am a project manager for the Children’s Support Administration Buildings and Children’s Scottish Rite Strong for Life Garden. I’m a lead designer on the Children’s North Druid Hills Hospital Master Plan. I was a lead designer for the Children’s Center for Advanced Pediatrics.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the project?

A: Working with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has been a rewarding, yet somewhat full circle, story for me. Twenty years ago, I was a patient at Scottish Rite Hospital, where I underwent major surgery. My life is better because of their team of physicians, and today I play a part in enhancing outcomes of patients, their families, and the staff that serves them. It’s hard to put words to what all this project means to me.

Q: What was your understanding of Healthcare planning prior to HGOR?

A: Prior to working at HGOR, my understanding of Healthcare planning was that of most people: solely based on experience as a patient or visitor.

Q: What is your understanding of it now?

A: Since I’ve worked here, I’ve worked on several hospital and medical office building projects, each that had challenges with unique solutions. Hospitals are complex organisms! The intricate layout and special organization inside and outside a hospital are designed to improve patient outcomes and save lives because seconds matter and each part of a campus plan has a reason for why it exists and where it is located.  Scientific studies which suggest improving health quicker through natural environments with fresh air and sunlight enforces that what we do as landscape architects plays an important role in healthcare. Physical and visual access to these environments can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and reduce the use of pain medication. It’s fascinating.

Q: Any learning curves along the way?

A: Most of my experience has been with pediatric and young adult healthcare facilities. Kids will be kids. Rocks will be thrown. Things will be climbed. Water will be touched. It’s important to always listen to the client who deals with these situations every day, as well as patients who have stories and experiences to share.   

As I can’t walk a mile in the same shoes as a lot of patients, I have had the opportunity to learn from many resources.  We work with multiple teams between our design consultants to the client’s patient care teams, all who bring knowledge to the table so we can better understand, plan and create places that not only carry an aesthetic value to them but truly serve as a healing environment to improve patients’ health.