British Columbia Children’s Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia
Art Consulting, Environmental Graphics

Serving one million children annually, BC Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Aesthetics was hired to design an arts enhancement program that had three separate components: a museum and cultural partnership; a visual arts program for the facility that highlighted British Columbia and native artists; and a graphics program for patient room enhancements. The project was spearheaded by the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation that established an advisory committee of stakeholders including board members, child life specialists, well known community artists, facilities personnel, clinical teams, and children and families.

To reach our client’s goals, Aesthetics collaborated with six museum partners to help design areas of the hospital using each museum’s content, expertise, and staff resources. In addition, Aesthetics created an art specification, budget, and location plan and facilitated a country-wide Call for Artists for the project. This resulted in over 600 artists responding and the creation of over 50 unique murals, plus over 100 individual commissions of artists working in all media. Aesthetics’ graphic designers also designed whimsical custom wall graphics for all of the patient rooms and corridors. These graphics relate to the wayfinding and interior design themes, and create a more welcoming and inviting environment for patients, families, and staff.

“It is very clear that Aesthetics knows their business — including a growing body of research that indicates a healing environment with positive distractions that stimulate the imagination can substantially reduce anxiety, perception of pain and potentially decrease the time spent in hospital. As a result, we are confident that our institution will be a world-leader in the patient healing experience and, through the help of Aesthetics, will be an inspiring place that heals the mind, body and spirit. We unreservedly and enthusiastically recommend Annette Ridenour and Aesthetics Inc.” — Debora Sweeney, Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Vancouver, BC