Children's National Hospital -The Elsie & Marvin Dekelboum Family Foundation Molecular Imaging Center

Sensory Design: Transforming Medical Spaces into Calming Environments

A 5,251 SF renovation, the Nuclear Medicine department’s new gamma camera and SPECT/CT space engages curious minds and relieves anxieties of visitors. The Molecular Imaging Center (MIC) is located deep within Children’s National Hospital on the second floor, where the original 1970s building and the late 1980s addition come together. Navigation easily becomes disorienting and adds to the stress of the long, highly technical procedure where anxieties are already elevated, and sensitivities heightened. The approach and connection to the other departments was an important consideration that informed the planning of the space, the phasing of the construction, and the aesthetics of the department.

As visitors move through the space, multiple layers of sensory design—including lower light levels, depth representation, and rhythmic light movement—integrate to form a cohesive and immersive experience. For example, changing color blocks convey depth, while lights and environmental graphics mimic the pulsation of bioluminescent sea creatures.

Light was a driving factor in the design, tied to both procedural necessity and as a calming mechanism. Distraction is inevitable as patients “dive” into the world of bioluminescent creatures and feel immersed within the sea themselves. Naturally curious and creative, children interact with the space instinctively. An art waiting room is in the middle of a kelp forest, while more scientifically-driven minds can learn about bioluminescence from the detailed entrance mural.

Throughout the approach and within the space, it was important to provide a calming environment that alleviates the anguish of a lengthy technical procedure, while instilling confidence.