The Wonder Tower Brochure by KarinaBagdadi

Our children deserve the best we have to offer, both in terms of care and experience —and that is just what this new facility will provide for the entire region.” KIM HASSMER, M E M B E R , C H O R FA M I LY ADVISORY NETWORK

THE

Wonder Tower

Defenders of childhood. A N S W E R I N G T H E C O M M U N I T Y ’ S C A L L FO R A F R E E S TA N D I N G C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L

THE WONDER TOWER

Table of Contents

For many years, our community has longed to see the development of a comprehensive children’s hospital—a place where children can see a dedicated team of pediatric specialists in an environment built just for them. Long dreamed about, Richmond’s own freestanding children’s hospital will not only serve the needs of our immediate region, but also create a world-class environment where the frontiers of pediatric medicine will thrive.

The construction of the Wonder Tower at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is an incredible milestone. But a facility is just walls and paint if purpose and passion don’t come together.

We need this building to support the growth in our programs and to better serve our patients and families in their time of greatest need. In the last decade, we have focused on bringing pediatric subspecialists to Richmond and

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INTRODUCING

WHY IT

THE DESIGN

THE BUILDING

THE WONDER

M AT T E R S

PROCESS

AT A G L A N C E

PAGE

CLINICAL

PAT I E N T

PLAY

CAREGIVER

CARE

ROOMS

AREAS

SPACES

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BRINGING IT

WHO

B U I LT F O R K I D S .

TO LIFE

WE ARE

B U I LT B Y Y O U .

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TOWER

building the capacity of our programs—some of which our community never had—giving children local access to exceptional care and keeping families close to home to focus on healing. Now, it is time to turn our attention to delivering an environment of care in an inpatient setting that matches the level of care provided inside its walls.

CHoR’s progress to date reflects a broad commitment from a growing number of generous people. We cannot achieve our dreams without your support and we are grateful for the fuel they provide to accelerate our bold vision.

We hope you are as inspired as we are by the following pages. Moreover, we hope you can envision the possibilities that these spaces will provide. Children and families will enter our doors on some of their hardest days. Days of a new diagnosis, a relapse or hard news—but with these hard days comes hope and healing and a spirit of the possible. We hope you will join us on this journey to provide that hope and healing to as many children as possible,

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through our medical care, through our critical research and through the many hands we will train to go out and serve children in their communities for decades to come.

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Elias Neujahr

Lauren Zaller Moore

CEO, Children’s Hospital

President and CEO,

of Richmond at VCU

Children’s Hospital Foundation

elias.neujahr@vcuhealth.org

lauren@chfrichmond.org

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THE ALL-NEW

Wonder Tower

THE WONDER TOWER

No small wonder. In 1920, the original Children’s Hospital on Brook Road changed the health care landscape in Virginia by creating a hospital dedicated to children. One hundred years later, we are continuing to put children first with the introduction of the all-new Wonder Tower—Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU’s new home for inpatient, emergency and trauma care, specifically engineered to provide the children of Virginia with world-class pediatric services.

8 8

Thinking big to take care of the little.

The world through a child’s eyes is a much different place—a place where imagination has no limits and nothing is impossible. But it’s also delicate and needs to be nurtured and protected.

So, we started with a clean sheet of paper, the input of a dedicated team of caregivers, parents, community leaders and yes, even kids, to create a place specifically designed to meet their needs, while also meeting the complex requirements of pediatric care at a world-class level. A unique place engineered to be the best experience for them, their families, their caregivers and the Richmond community.

Let’s celebrate how far CHoR has come, but even when the walls are built and the paint is dry, let’s never stop working together to build a place that provides children and families [with] the best care and the best memories, even on their worst days.” MARISA CHERRY, PAT I E N T M O M

W H Y I T M AT T E R S

Where the wonders of childhood meet the wonders of modern medicine. World-class children’s health care isn’t just about

private spaces, dedicated parking and so much more,

the services you provide, it’s about how and where

together in one place. With the help of innovative

you provide them. It’s about understanding a child’s

architectural design and collaboration within our local

world, nurturing the boundless joy that forms it and

medical community and Richmond at large, we have

protecting it from the things that threaten it. That’s why

come together to construct a streamlined, state-of-the-

the Wonder Tower has set out to provide a special kind

art facility—the size of an entire city block and over 13

of care in a safe space crafted for children. The right

giraffes tall—that not only helps preserve the well-

care, at the right time, in a setting where a kid can still

being and health of all of our kids, but that defends the

be a kid.

magic of childhood.

Currently, pediatric inpatient and emergency services are in the same facilities as adult care on VCU Medical Center’s downtown campus. As a result, not only are our young patients and their families faced with the added stress of being in an adult environment, but also with the reality of not having private patient rooms or spaces to gather, play or use their flourishing imaginations.

The new Wonder Tower is our way of changing this for the children of Virginia. We’re moving them out of the adult hospital and giving them their own environment,

It is important for kids to understand that we see them as people and not diagnoses.” JENNIFER L. RHODES, MD, MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR CRANIOFACIAL CARE

THE WONDER TOWER

Design Process

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Designed by kids for kids. The Wonder Tower is grounded in this simple truth: kid-sized problems need kid-focused solutions. It’s only when we look for and create these specially tailored solutions that we can ensure we’re caring for them in the most efficient, most comfortable way possible.

So, when it came to actually designing our new facility, we didn’t just design a kid-friendly hospital, we planned a comprehensive hospital uniquely built for kids and how they see the world.

To do so, we took a collaborative approach—not just building it for our patients and their families, but with them. Our architects actively worked with and listened to the feedback of community leaders, pediatricians, parents and especially the kids we serve, and combined it with the evidence-based

As adults, we don’t necessarily have the same perspective on this that the kids do, but their perspective is incredibly important — they’re the patients.”

decisions necessary to increase efficiency and facilitate better care. The results are undeniable, and seen in

K AT E R E N N E R , A S S O C I AT E AT H KS A RC H I T E C T S

everything from shared, technologically-advanced workspaces and MRI machines made to look like hot air balloon adventures, to interactive play areas like our shadow box installation, and even to our gathering spaces that allow a greater range of patients to take part in holiday and birthday celebrations.

T H E B U I L D I N G AT A G L A N C E

I AT R ARE PED ACUTE C

S P LAY R O O M

ICS

SHELL

FE CHILD LI

GROWTH) R FUTURE SHELL (FO

UTURE SHELL (F

I N PAT I E N T PHARMACY ME O U T PAT I E N

O U T PAT I E N PERIOPERA

I N PAT I E N

SHELL

T CLINICS

EMERGENC

ICES TIVE SERV

SKY TERRACE

A L S PA C E

SHELL

ROOMS NFERENCE

T CLINICS

ADIOLOGY IMAGING / R

O U T PA T I E N T LAB

ICS

T BEDS)

MECHANIC

S PA C E CHANICAL

T CLINICS

ND CO OFFICES A O U T PAT I E N

I AT R ARE PED ACUTE C SIVE IC INTEN P E D I AT R IT CARE UN

GY / A S K H E M AT O LO IC N I L C GY LO O C ON

UMA Y AND TRA

SURGERY PERFORMANC

E S PA C E

ICES DINING SERV

S E L F - PA R K I N

ANAGEMENT M AT E R I A L S M

S E L F - PA R K I N

SHELL

S E L F - PA R K I N

RIVAL CAFE AND AR

GI FT SH OP / AR MA CY OU TPAT IE NT PH

ING VALET PARK ING VALET PARK NG VA L E T PA R K I

EMERGENCY

DROP-OFF/ EMERGENCY CK O D LOADING D E PA RT M E N T

The strongest foundations are made of building blocks.

S E L F PA R K

Set to open in early 2023 500,000 square feet 72 private rooms 16 stories of clinical and support space

NG SHELL VA L E T PA R K I

NG SHELL VA L E T PA R K I NG SHELL VA L E T PA R K I

NG VA L E T PA R K I

Four levels of shell space for future growth Convenient parking in the building Family amenities, including playrooms and performance spaces

Arrival zone with seven levels of parking Existing outpatient clinics in Children’s Pavilion Emergency room, surgery and support services

State-of-the-art operating rooms and imaging suites

PICU and acute care units (with shell space for future growth)

Emergency Department, Level 1

Shell space for future growth and mechanical spaces

pediatric trauma center and helipad

19 19

THE WONDER TOWER

Clinical Care

CLINICAL CARE

Clinical care that feels anything but clinical.

The surgical and clinical care of children is better at a children’s hospital. This statement might sound like a no-brainer, but sometimes what makes it true is easily overlooked. At the Wonder Tower, we’re committed to knowing and using the safest, most productive and most comfortable methods to care for kids.

Children aren’t little adults and shouldn’t be treated as such—our medical team knows that. Whether it means understanding the many complexities of pediatric illnesses and specialized practices or just knowing the right way to communicate and make a procedure a little less scary, our care providers have specifically trained to work with children, accommodate their unique medical needs and offer the added level of empathy, expertise and time they require. The Wonder Tower’s new dedicated clinical spaces, including a Level 1 pediatric trauma center, are a reflection of this and serve to make our care providers’ jobs that much easier and their outcomes that much better.

Treatment is not just medicine, side effects and symptoms. Our group outreaches into different areas. We’re all working together and identifying and addressing issues.” F R A N C E S AUS T I N , M D , A S S I S TA N T P RO F E S S O R , H E M ATO LO GY A N D O N C O LO GY

JUST FOR KIDS.

M I N U T E S M AT T E R .

YOUR PERSONAL SUPPORT SYSTEM.

Dedicated surgery and imaging

When every second counts, you

Going to the hospital can be a

spaces don’t just allow our team

need a state-of-the-art emergency

scary and traumatic experience,

to care for more children, they

department that patients can

especially for kids and their

give us the opportunity to tailor

count on 24/7. As a Level 1

families. That’s where our Child

these spaces to best meet our

pediatric trauma center in Central

Life Program comes in. As

patients’ needs. To help children

Virginia, we have pediatric

a critical piece in helping us

feel more at ease, not only have

specialists from all medical

maximize care while minimizing

we added more operating rooms,

disciplines. To ensure we’re ready

fears, our child life team provides

we’ve added child-focused

for anything that comes our way,

developmental, educational,

touches like headset viewers that

we’ve added a separate entrance,

social and emotional support

let kids watch movies during their

larger rooms that allow our team

to help patients and siblings

procedures. We’ve also expanded

to provide life-saving care for

adjust and cope with hospital

our number of imaging suites

multiple trauma patients in the

environments, illnesses and

and have included specially

same room, and even a helipad

injuries, and the treatments that

designed spaces like a CT scan

on the roof for a more seamless

come with them.

room that instantly transports

process.

you to an underwater adventure.

PAT I E N T RO O M S

Home away from home.

There’s more to staying in a hospital than just

We knew that to accomplish this, the rooms we

getting medical care, especially as a child. Your room

designed had to be a vast improvement from what

should be somewhere a kid can be a kid, where

is currently out there. One of the first steps we took

your family can sit around and roll their eyes at your

was making the foundational decision to switch from

pop’s latest dad joke or go head-to-head in a board

double occupancy to bright, single occupancy rooms

game. A place that optimizes medical performance,

with dedicated bathrooms. Beyond making this more

but still makes space for your favorite band’s poster,

comfortable for everyone involved, it also reduces

your photo collage from last summer and all the

the risk of infection while allowing us to reallocate

other personal, human touches that make you feel

resources that would be used for managing shared

like you. Because above all else, your room should

spaces toward serving more children.

be a place that feels like yours and yours alone.

A L L I N T H E FA M I LY .

HIGH-TECH. LOW STRESS.

S A F E T Y F I R S T.

Throughout the space we’ve

We’ve incorporated smart

From using aesthetically

included family zones. These

room technology with a large

appealing and hygienic

areas include comfortable

high-resolution digital screen,

materials to future technology

seating, places to eat meals

designed to customize the

trends, many considerations

together, sleeper sofas, large

patient experience. It integrates

went into designing our

windows with breathtaking

seamlessly with a patient’s

headwall. This attention to

views of Richmond, and storage

electronic health record so that

detail and consideration for

for personal belongings. More

patients and their families can

things like the complexity of

than just increased privacy and

learn about their care team and

the tasks being performed,

opportunities to work more

plan, watch TV and movies,

handedness and nurses’

closely with providers, these

order a brick-oven pizza from

side preferences, ultimately

important family-centered

the cafeteria and control their

allowed us to make safety a

tweaks give families a chance

environment without having to

priority and ensure that nurses

to spend time together, just like

get out of bed.

spend less time wrangling

they would at home.

cords, and more time listening to patients and families.

Having our patient families at the table as we have continued to design and develop this building has been so important. To hear them say to us, you got this right, means a lot to me because I know that they are looking at this through the eyes of their children.” JENIECE S. ROANE, MS, RN, NE-BC A S S O C I AT E V I C E P R E S I D E N T O F O P E R AT I O N S

PLAY AREAS

Care that doesn’t kid around. Spaces that do. When we say built for kids, we mean all kids—kids of different backgrounds, different sizes, different developmental abilities, with different favorite sports and different favorite foods. At the Wonder

BE YOURSELF.

Tower, we’ve made it a point to meet the needs of children of all ages, from newborns all the way up to 20 year olds. And because we know it can be extra hard to feel “normal” while staying in a hospital,

Play rooms, classrooms, a gym, family suites and areas for self-care offer children and

we’ve worked diligently to add other touches throughout our design

their families the social support,

that encourage moments of warmth and comfort, and help our

routine and respite they need to

patients feel a little more like everyday kids.

feel more like themselves.

FOR THE KIDS WHO DON’T THINK THEY’RE KIDS ANYMORE.

GET WILD.

BRINGING THE OUTDOORS IN.

Give ’em their space—and video

We have a lot in common with

With the help of an indoor

games, privacy and time to act

the James River. Just like it

garden and atrium, we’ve

their age. We’ve placed a teen

traverses the Commonwealth,

envisioned an indoor park-like

lounge on every floor specifically

so do we, reaching out and

atmosphere for year-round

tailored to be less childlike, and

creating a network of health

relaxation. An added multistory

instead give growing preteens

care excellence throughout the

space connects the waiting areas

and teens a space to hang out,

state and beyond. To celebrate

with plenty of natural light and

watch movies, read and meet

this bond with our community,

improved wayfinding.

their specific needs, including

each floor of the Wonder Tower

a one-way graphic window

has graphic details inspired by a

that offers an added feeling of

different habitat along the James

privacy.

River. We’ve even included wayfinding tools featuring icons of animals from those respective habitats.

CAREGIVER SPACES

Caring for the caregivers. World-class care for our patients starts with world-class care for our people. From how difficult it is to see children hurt, in pain and unwell to the added steps of having to go find applesauce to administer medication, caring for children has its own set of special challenges. That’s why we’ve gone out of our way to give our medical team the time, resources and tools to not just do their jobs better, but to feel better doing them. This includes adding spaces for them to recharge, adding care stations with computers every two rooms and optimizing where supplies are located and organized to help cut down on time gathering and increase their precious time spent directly with patients. Moreover, because collaboration and understanding are crucial to

In the new environment, our nurses will be able to spend more quality time with their patients. They won’t spend time looking for supplies or trying to explain to families why they have to share a room with another patient or family.”

caring for children, we consider our patients’ families and loved ones to be an integral part of their care team and have made efforts to ensure

RACHEL PARKER, NURSING LEADER,

they have their own spaces to refresh and re-energize themselves.

AC U T E C A R E P E D I AT R I C S

EXTRA ROOM TO RECHARGE.

W H AT YO U N E E D , W H E R E Y O U W A N T I T.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE FUTURE.

A little R&R goes a long way in

Some things just make sense.

As an academic hospital, our

counteracting burnout. We’ve

We’ve not only increased the

commitment to improving the

built in staff areas for rest and

convenience and organization

state of pediatric medicine

relaxation to help our caregivers

throughout the hospital, we’ve

and offering the best possible

be at their best physically,

incorporated thoughtful design,

training to the next generation

mentally and emotionally so that

including storing supplies for

of caregivers is at the forefront

they can provide safe, high-

our care providers in locations

of everything we do. That’s why

quality care that, as a result,

based on how frequently they’re

we have a variety of spaces

improves the patient experience.

used, positioning team stations

built into each unit to encourage

to maximize visibility into rooms

collaboration between different

and creating private spaces and

disciplines, accommodate

collaborative areas for team

opportunities for education

members to conduct focused

and facilitate communication

work or engage with one another

between medical teams, patients

throughout the day.

and families to make medical decisions.

THE WONDER TOWER

Bringing it to life.

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Collaboration, not compromise. FA M I LY A D V I S O RY N E T W O R K

CARE PROVIDERS

The secret to providing the best possible care to

Our care providers aren’t just care providers. They are

children and their families is simple: listen to them.

the people who have dedicated themselves to fighting

The CHoR Family Advisory Network gives us the

tirelessly for the well-being of children. People who

opportunity to hear insight and feedback from parents

know how to speak and relate to them, work for them

who meet once per month to tell us about their

and care for them in a way that makes sense for their

experiences. These invaluable meetings help us see

needs. At the Wonder Tower, we’ve found the very

things from a different perspective and optimize our

best people in every discipline and have empowered

processes, facilities, treatment and truly improve the

them to seamlessly work with specialists inside and

patient experience.

outside our system to get the best outcomes for our patients. Because at the end of the day, that is what it’s all about. Beyond our walls, CHoR providers work with a close knit network of pediatric providers through the Virginia Children’s Care Network and even other health systems in Central Virginia to improve pediatric care across the Commonwealth..

To be able to have all of those resources accessible in one place is going to make life as a mom of a complex kiddo ten times easier.” KIM HASSMER, M E M B E R , C H O R FA M I LY ADVISORY NETWORK HARPER, AGE 4, WITH HER CHOR NEUROSURGERY TEAM.

WHO WE ARE

We were here when your grandparents were kids.

C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L FO U N DAT I O N There are no limits to how big kids’ dreams get, but it’s our job to do everything in our power to ensure they get the chance to achieve them. Founded on the idea that there is no greater cause than that of the well-being of children, Children’s Hospital Foundation traces its roots back to philanthropic efforts made more than 100 years ago to begin the early work at Dr. William Tate Graham’s original clinic. As an independent organization, Children’s Hospital Foundation has worked with the Richmond community to invest $160 million in the pediatric initiatives of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, including the recruitment of 150 pediatric specialists, the establishment of robust, dedicated centers for heart care and traumatic brain injury, to name a few,

As we work together to build a new state-of-the-art facility to match the caliber work being done inside, we recognize that none of this would be possible without your support.” LAUREN ZALLER MOORE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L FO U N DAT I O N

and now, the construction of the hospital’s new, lifechanging inpatient facility.

AND WE’LL BE HERE WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE GRANDPARENTS.

And you say, wait, something is different here, right? This is all about kids, all about families. And to have that for this community will be very, very special. And to have that for our teams who care so much about doing great things to help heal children is also very meaningful.”

C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L

V C U H E A LT H

O F R I C H M O N D AT VC U

As a vital part of the region’s medical community,

Nationally ranked Children’s Hospital of Richmond at

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU is proud to be

VCU is Central Virginia’s only comprehensive, full-

backed by an institution that encompasses everything

service children’s hospital—an achievement of heroic

we stand for. Propelled by leading-edge technology,

proportions all its own. But as we celebrate our 100th

innovative problem-solving, expert medical teams and

anniversary and look back at our accomplishments, it’s

a legacy of academically-driven excellence, VCU Health

clear that our legacy goes well beyond that and serves

System is a comprehensive organization pushing the

as a testimony to our own commitment and that of our

limits of what’s possible in medicine and health.

community, to improving the treatment of childhood diseases and providing access to quality care for all

ELIAS NEUJAHR

children. To date, our certifications and awards include:

Chief Executive Officer of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

•

Level 1 pediatric trauma center designation (American College of Surgeons and VA

A CEO hailing from 3 leading and nationally-ranked

Department of Health)

children’s hospitals around the country, Elias Neujahr

2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Children’s

brings a vision for excellence to CHoR that is laser-

Hospitals (in cancer, nephrology, pulmonology

focused on becoming a nationally-acclaimed children’s

and urology)

hospital and improving care for kids throughout

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation accreditation (CF Care

Central Virginia and beyond.

Center) •

•

Diabetes Education Program designated

LAUREN ZALLER MOORE

(American Diabetes Association)

President and Chief Executive Officer of Children’s

Baby-Friendly designation (World Health

Hospital Foundation

Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund) Backed by many years of experience in fundraising Today, through the help of philanthropic efforts,

and working with children’s hospitals, Lauren Zaller

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU combines

Moore is committed to the difference the new fully

award-winning research, education as a teaching

kid-focused Wonder Tower will bring to the world of

hospital, clinical care and a passion for working with

children and the community outreach necessary to

children to offer a vast array of health services to

help make it a reality.

thousands of children each year, including pediatric emergency services, primary care, specialty and subspecialty care, burn, trauma, transplant and long-term care. Thanks to the support of donors and community leaders, our more than 15 locations across Central Virginia offer pediatric services covering

ELIAS NEUJAHR, CEO, CHOR

everything from the simplest to the most complex of children’s health care needs, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

Built for kids. Built by you. We’ve asked the big questions. We’ve done the research. We’ve worked tirelessly and set the foundation for a one-of-a-kind medical facility that authentically speaks to how children see the world. The Wonder Tower is here to change the lives of all of Virginia’s children, enrich the Richmond community and improve the state of pediatric medicine around the world.

The only piece missing to bring this vision to life is you. Because while the Wonder Tower is specifically built for kids, it cannot be built without your help.

Help us protect the childhood wonder of the children we serve every year by supporting the construction of the Wonder Tower. It’s a mission that will make a huge difference for the kids and families of Richmond, with room for everybody to play a meaningful part. Contact us today to set up a meeting and explore how we can work together. The children are counting on you.

B U I LT F O R K I D S . O R G B U I LT F O R K I D S @ C H F R I C H M O N D . O R G

They’re our most precious asset, our kids, and we want to defend their childhood and the life that they will have long into the future. And that’s what a children’s hospital does. So we’re so thrilled to be able to invite the community to join us in this effort and to help us to bring something to the community that will leave a legacy lasting lifetimes.” LAUREN ZALLER MOORE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, C H I L D R E N ’ S H O S P I TA L FO U N DAT I O N

B U I LT FO R K I D S . B U I LT BY YO U . B U I LT FO R K I D S . O RG