University of Virginia, Children's Hospital
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | The Children’s Hospital at UVA is a nationally ranked 111-bed children’s general facility admitting more than 3,000 inpatients each year. MVLA designed an urban entry plaza in collaboration with LaBella Associates/Odell that welcomes patients, families, staff, and visitors to the facility. Its location at the junction of two major vehicular and pedestrian corridors serves as an important gateway to the University. Creating a child-friendly open space bound by two busy streets and a drop-off area was a challenge solved by stone seating walls and softly planted berms that shape and edge the plaza, ensuring a secure space for supervised play during family visits. The low walls also provide universal access to the plaza from the street sidewalks. Lush native plantings enhance the experience through sense of touch, sight, and smell, and provide wildlife habitat through the winter. Boulders and animal statues engage young visitors with an interactive and storytelling narrative.
