McCarthy Building Companies, together with CannonDesign and Jacobs, has completed the Southwest Tower at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), marking a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing campus expansion.
The 30,658-m2 (330,000-sf), nine-story pediatric outpatient facility brings together CHOC’s specialty care, research, and clinical services in one centralized and highly engaging space.
The outpatient facility boasts vibrant colors and biophilic elements that reflect the varied natural landscape of southern California.
The tower features a distinctive red and silver facade, accented by dynamic lighting woven into its solar fins. These illuminated fins are densest at the building’s primary corner, gradually tapering off toward the edges, which creates a shimmering, kinetic effect as the building is viewed in motion.
Vivid and informative experiential graphics and wayfinding are infused throughout the building, many featuring CHOC’s beloved mascot, Choco the Bear, and other elements that celebrate the institution’s “Long Live Childhood” mantra. Waiting areas are sprinkled with interactive activities designed to educate children about healthy habits and more.
Some of the special design features within the building include:
- Elevators on floors four through nine include shadowboxes with Choco graphics personalized to the floors and are filled with nostalgic toys
- Kid-sized interactive wall graphics
- Specialty clinics with immersive murals inspired by Southern California and its iconic attractions
- Dedicated play
- Lighting and floor patterning are designed to act as another method of wayfinding
Housing the different specialties under one roof makes it more convenient for children and their families who see more than one specialist and fosters increased collaboration between each of the clinics.
