Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic Renovation

M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center

The Katie Hageboeck Children’s Cancer Research Fund Clinic and Team One Four Center, which offers world-class childhood cancer and blood disorder care, wanted to support patients and their families by providing a child-friendly, multi-sensory, interactive space to help minimize the fear and discomfort of undergoing treatment.

Inspired by the clinic’s namesake and her own battle with childhood cancer, the BWBR design team crafted a North woods habitat featuring treetop and forest floor designs, complete with animal tracks guiding the way to exam rooms and interactive ‘hunt and find’ images for children to explore during their visits. The graphics and colors help define wayfinding and differentiate clinic neighborhoods, enticing kids into the rooms with positive distraction elements. A recessed tree trunk alcove offers child-sized playfulness, while the balance of color and white space create flow and a sense of restfulness.

Project partners: Dunham, Mortenson