In 2017, Children’s National Hospital (CNH) engaged Array Architects and Elkus Manfredi to lead the planning and redevelopment of the health and science portion of the 12-acre former Walter Reed Army Medical Center campus for pediatric health services. The design team worked closely with the client, the Washington DC Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC 4B), the DCRA, and the DC Historic Preservation Board to develop a plan that represents the interests of all who will benefit from this campus redevelopment.
In the first phase of the redevelopment, Building 52, a former tuberculosis hospital, was transformed into a clinical care facility. A fully-renovated interior, energy efficiency upgrades, and all-new MEP infrastructure helped bring the building up to a modern standard of care. Programming and design strategies that included reclamation of sleeping porches as conditioned interior spaces, planning for on-stage/off-stage zones, rigorous material selection, and a keen understanding of the client’s workflow resulted in a facility that enables clinical efficiencies and multi-disciplinary community-focused care. An element of “play” is integrated throughout to establish an inviting, light-filled, and comfortable care facility.
The newly-adapted building is now a whimsical, vibrant, and historically-significant pediatric outpatient center housing 24 exam rooms and staff support spaces at the forefront of Children’s National’s developing new Shepherd Park pediatric research and innovation hub.