Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital
Healthcare
Standing 19 stories tall and home to 446 beds, the Arthur M. Blank Hospital represents a remarkable blend of compassionate care, healing and innovation.
Project Statement
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital is a 19-story, 2-million-square-foot, 446-bed hospital organized around a simple idea: a highly complex medical environment can also feel nurturing, connected and joyful.
Known as a “hospital in a garden,” the project brings natural light, healing views, landscaped gardens and nature-inspired interiors into the daily experience of patients and families. Patient rooms overlook gardens or Stone Mountain, while family lounges, child-life spaces, therapy environments and dedicated staff areas support the emotional and physical needs of the people who use the hospital.
The design was shaped by the people who would use it. Through Simulation-based Hospital Design Testing, a 100,000-square-foot warehouse became Cardboard City, one of the country’s largest full-scale departmental mock-ups. Physicians, nurses, staff, observers and designers tested real-world scenarios before construction, allowing the team to identify workflow and safety challenges and refine care environments at full scale.
Environmental performance is equally integrated. The completed project was awarded LEED Silver certification and is the first LEED v4/4.1 Healthcare project in Georgia to achieve certification at any level and the largest LEED for Healthcare project in the United States. A 12% reduction in embodied carbon, 29% reduction in water use and 57% reduction in irrigation water use demonstrate the project’s commitment to measurable resource efficiency.
Arthur M. Blank Hospital brings these ideas together in a pediatric environment where evidence-based design, nature, technology and human experience work as one.
The 446-bed pediatric hospital and its adjoining South Tower, home to outpatient clinics and administrative functions are thoughtfully designed to maximize natural light and sweeping views. Patients can enjoy access to campus gardens while taking in views of Atlanta’s Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead areas, as well as the city’s beautiful tree canopy. The state-of-the-art facility is home to Georgia’s only Level I pediatric trauma center and includes:
• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) lab dedicated to support cell and gene therapies.
• A dedicated floor for cardiovascular services that include three cardiovascular operating rooms, two hybrid operating rooms, cardiac catheterization labs, and MRI/non-invasive cardiology imaging services.
• Nineteen (19) operating rooms (for non-cardiac surgeries)
• Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) that will assist staff by delivering materials, medication and supplies throughout the hospital
• A 20-inch pneumatic chute system for efficient waste management.
• Through their affiliation with Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine, the hospital also provides conference and simulation spaces.
• A 1,200-square-foot Ryan Seacrest Foundation broadcast studio for young patients.
Achieving LEED Silver certification, the hospital integrates energy efficiency and sustainability throughout its design, construction and operations. Children’s is the first LEED v4/4.1 Healthcare project in Georgia to achieve certification at any level and is the largest LEED for Healthcare project in the United States.
Framework for Design Excellence Narrative
Design for Discovery
Cardboard City made discovery tangible. The team transformed a 100,000-square-foot warehouse into one of the country’s largest full-scale departmental mock-ups, built entirely from cardboard. Physicians, nurses, staff, observers and designers tested real-world patient-care scenarios before construction. The process exposed workflow, safety and operational challenges at full scale, allowing the team to refine layouts and relationships before they became costly to change. Lessons from existing care environments were tested against the proposed design, creating a feedback loop between evidence, simulation and design decisions.
Design for Integration
The hospital is conceived as a “hospital in a garden,” integrating architecture, nature, technology, and care into a cohesive pediatric environment. Natural light, landscaped gardens, healing views, organic forms and warm natural materials soften the clinical setting. The interior extends this idea through sculptural trees, nature-inspired colors and textures and custom graphics rooted in Georgia’s landscapes. The result is an environment that balances sophisticated medical care with warmth, wonder, and a strong sense of place.
Design for Equitable Communities
The project creates an inclusive environment for a diverse pediatric population. Universal design strategies, intuitive wayfinding, family-centered layouts and accessible amenities support varying abilities and needs. An interfaith chapel provides a space for reflection across religious and cultural practices. Custom graphics and color palettes draw from Georgia’s landscapes, creating a recognizable sense of place while helping families navigate a complex building.
Design for Resources
Sustainability was integrated from master planning through construction. Low-carbon materials, procurement transparency, and a Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment contributed to a 12% reduction in embodied carbon. Patient headwalls, bathroom pods, and mechanical racks were prefabricated off-site, improving coordination, reducing waste, and limiting on-site disruption. Early trade partner involvement helped coordinate complex systems and reduce redundancies. The completed project was awarded LEED Silver certification — the first LEED v4/4.1 Healthcare project in Georgia to achieve certification at any level and the largest LEED for Healthcare project in the United States.
Design for Energy
Energy performance combines passive design with high-performance systems. Solar orientation, high-performance glazing, shading, and daylighting reduce demand, while heat recovery, Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems, advanced lighting controls, and real-time energy monitoring support efficient operation. Continuous commissioning and monitoring provide a platform for long-term performance tracking and stewardship.
Design for Water
Water conservation strategies address both operational use and the landscape. Efficient plumbing fixtures contributed to a 29% reduction in water use, while native plantings and efficient irrigation systems reduced irrigation water use by 57%.
Design for Change
The hospital anticipates evolving technology and care models through flexible infrastructure and automation. Automated Mobile Robots move supplies, medication, and food, allowing staff to focus more time on patient care. Dedicated AMR elevators streamline logistics and can be repurposed for staff use if future demand changes. A pneumatic waste-conveyance system reduces staff travel and frees space otherwise required for waste holding and transport. Together, these strategies create infrastructure that can adapt as healthcare changes.
LEED/Green Certifications
LEED Silver
Price/sq. ft. if provided
Confidential
Photo Captions
1. A stunning view of the Children's Hospital at sunset, showcasing its modern architecture and beautifully landscaped surroundings.
2. Cardboard City: A full-scale, immersive mock-up built entirely from cardboard, enabling real-time simulations that informed critical design decisions for safety, efficiency and patient experience.
3. Orientation studies and selected site plan illustrate the 'hospital in a garden' concept, emphasizing healing views, natural materials and green spaces to promote comfort and well-being.
4. A serene retreat of over 20 acres blends healing gardens with public art, creating a peaceful and culturally rich environment for patients, families and staff.
5. Cocooning and comfort: Treehouse-inspired benches, organic forms, and cozy seating areas create a nurturing, imaginative environment that supports healing for patients and families.
6. Wayfinding inspired by Georgia’s landscapes connects patients to place through color, texture, and regional identity.
7. Exterior views highlight its modern architecture, curved forms, and integration with landscaped green spaces.
8. Child life spaces like The Zone, Teen Loft, and therapy rooms offer engaging, age-appropriate environments that support healing through creativity, play and learning.
9. Supportive spaces for staff and families including lounges, education rooms, and a serene chapel—foster connection, reflection and well-being throughout the hospital.
10. A variety of dining and gathering spaces including a café, coffee shop and outdoor patio enhance comfort, convenience, and community within the hospital environment.
11. Green spaces and environmental studies ensure comfort and safety for immunocompromised patients, with design responses to solar and wind impacts enhancing outdoor healing environments.
12. Strategic prefabrication and early trade partner collaboration streamlined construction, reduced waste, and enhanced quality across key hospital systems.
13. LEED Silver-certified strategies in energy, water, and materials support environmental performance, including a 12% reduction in embodied carbon, 29% reduction in water use and 57% reduction in irrigation water use.
14. Automated Mobile Robots (AMRs) and pneumatic systems streamline logistics, enhance efficiency, and future-proof hospital operations.
15. A place for healing and joy where nature, design, and community come together to support the well-being of every child.
