As healthcare grows more interdisciplinary, designing space for collaborative care is vital. Yet in dense urban settings, real estate is scarce—especially for complex specialties. At UCSF’s Pediatric Stad Center, multiple therapies come together under one roof, imbuing its collective space with nature-inspired interiors and uplifting environmental graphics for young patients.
The clinic unites three pediatric services into one location—pain management, palliative care, and physical therapy—to provide the greatest relief possible with the fewest side effects. Its integrated design enables teams to share resources and maximize clinical space. Calming nature imagery, curved hallways, a digital waterfall, and multisensory features offer positive distraction and reduce anxiety for young patients.
Woven throughout the clinic are nature-centric, interactive design elements drawn from San Francisco’s diverse ecosystem to comfort and calm young patients. The design brings to life four natural landmarks—the forest, grasslands, tidal pools, and ocean—through digital and analogue installations.