University of Rochester Golisano Children’s Hospital Healing Gardens

SWBR recently designed two healing gardens for the Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Designed to accommodate the needs of the general hospital population in addition to those at the Children’s Hospital, the gardens include a variety of adult and child oriented garden elements including engraved and colored pavements, sitting areas, cast stone ornaments, sculpture, lighting, play panels, and planting. Both gardens are actually green roofs, located above interior spaces and surrounded by several stories of architecture on all four sides. For this reason permeable pavements and a shade tolerant plant palette were utilized. These gardens opened in the summer of 2015.

“I think the (Healing) gardens look amazing! I’ve heard great things already and have seen lots of use out there as well. They really transform the feel on that end of the campus. We really appreciate it – it looks great!” – Katrina Nagle, Senior Space Planner, University of Rochester Medical Center