Healthcare

Where kids can be kids

Rachel’s Courtyard

Rachel’s Courtyard is an indoor and outdoor child life zone design where children receiving medical care at Presbyterian Hospital can be kids again. As part of a larger renovation of Presbyterian's west towers, Dekker renovated the beloved Rachel’s Courtyard to provide a functional and safe respite from the hospital environment.

A history of caring for children's wellness

Rachel’s Courtyard is located in a Presbyterian tower originally built in 1975. Designed in a 2004 addition to the tower, Rachel’s courtyard was created to be a space where kids could forget about the stressful environment of a hospital, and just have fun. The original space included an indoor space, as well as an outdoor space that contained a row of home façades representing regions in the U.S.

In 2012, Dekker started a multi-year renovation to convert the tower from semi-private rooms to private rooms. As part of this project, there was an opportunity to renovate Rachel’s Courtyard. Goals for the project included increasing natural light and improving utilization of the outdoor space.

A space for kids to be kids

Rachel’s Courtyard is a child life zone in which no treatments occur. Instead, it is a safe place for fun and play, where kids can forget about the stressors of being in a hospital, and just focus on being kids.

The design team – a collaboration between Dekker’s healthcare, education, and interior design studios – wanted to ensure that kids had age-appropriate spaces that facilitate play for kids of all abilities. With a small space to work with, the team decided on an open concept, using color to designate different zones. A smaller, lower ceiling carves out a zone for younger children to play, while computers create a gaming zone for kids. Strategic use of colors and existing arcs create separate zones while still maximizing square footage.

While the initial 12 ft floor-to-floor height was a challenge, the design team was able to raise the ceiling height because the non-treatment space requires minimal mechanical systems.

Sky lights and windows to the outdoor play space introduce natural light and invite children to play in the outdoor space. Staff can change the colors of LED lights in the ceilings to match the seasons and create more fun.

This project would not be possible without the care and collaboration of our partners, including Bridgers & Paxton, Diana Lamb as project manager at Presbyterian, as well as our in-house collaboration across studios. Our contractors even coordinated with Presbyterian’s plant watering volunteer to ensure that the plants would still be watered and thriving during construction. Everyone involved with the project gave it the care it deserved out of a true understanding of the mission – to give children a place to find joy while in the hospital.