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Featured Inspiration: Surrey Memorial Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit
Being in a hospital can be a scary and stressful experience for kids, especially younger ones who may not fully understand what’s happening or why. Creating a comfortable space that appeals to kids of all ages is what Surrey Memorial Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit did. Here, they designed a calming environment with careful consideration of acoustics, dimmable lighting, and modular furniture. This project was featured on HealthcareDesignMagazine.com.
The Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit (CAPSU) at Surrey Memorial Hospital in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, is a specialized unit for children and teenagers with urgent mental health issues requiring a five- to seven-day stay in the hospital for stabilization. The 10-bed unit opened in May 2017 in a renovated space previously occupied by the hospital’s emergency department. A major challenge faced in the design process was how to configure the space given that there was only one exterior window to bring in natural daylight. Through a collaborative and Lean-based planning process, KRA—Kirsten Reite Architecture (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) worked with clinicians to remove redundant programing, which allowed the space to be opened up. The project team also defined a back-of-house area for staff and created a large, open multipurpose lounge, dining, and activity space for patients.
Project Details:
Facility name: Surrey Memorial Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Short Stay Unit
Location: Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
Completion date (month and year): May 2017
Owner: Fraser Health Authority
Total unit area: 5,920 sq. Ft.
Total construction cost: $2.8 million
Cost/sq. ft.: Approx. $470
Architecture: KRA—Kirsten Reite Architecture
Interior Design: KRA—Kirsten Reite Architecture
Environmental Graphics: Signals Design Group
Contracting/Construction: Kinetic Construction Ltd.
Engineering: Bush, Bohlman and Partners (structural), AME Consulting Group Ltd. (mechanical), MMM Group Limited (electrical)
Source:
“PHOTO TOUR: Surrey Memorial Hospital Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Stabilization Unit.” HCD Magazine, 1 Mar. 2018, www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/projects/behavioral-health/photo-tour-surrey-memorial-hospital-child-adolescent-psychiatric-stabilization-unit/.