Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago

No child wants to go to a hospital, so the new 23-story Children’s Memorial Hospital of Chicago is designed to make the experience as easy and comforting as possible for its patients. The hospital partnered with local public institutions that donated art and decorations to make the facility colorful, warm and entertaining for children and their families. Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium donated large-scale sculptures of a humpback whale and her baby, which appear to swim over visitors’ heads as they enter the lobby. Complementing the sculptures, the exterior of the lobby’s two-story elevator shaft is illuminated with swirling aqua lights and marine animal projections that transform the lobby into an aquatic oasis.

Lightswitch Architectural partnered with design firm Aquamoon to bring the ocean-themed concept to life. We identified new long-life, theatrical, moving-head fixtures that would re-create the look and movement of an underwater environment, while also meeting the hospital’s maintenance requirements. Custom-designed gobos project fish, crabs and other marine life images onto the watery surround. We collaborated with Architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz to ensure that the luminaire mounting and electrical connections were minimally obtrusive, so that the visual connection to the elevator shaft was maintained.

With our unique combination of architectural, theatrical event and museum design experience, Lightswitch Architectural was able to address the project’s multi-faceted design challenges. Our expertise resulted in an installation that was equally creative and functional. The museum was so pleased with the final product that they now keep the elevator illuminated 24/7.