Project Strategy

At Cook Children’s, interior design is an extension of care. Every space is thoughtfully crafted to support healing, reduce stress, and nurture hope for children, families, and caregivers alike. Design decisions begin with the child’s perspective—scaled environments, approachable forms, and intuitive wayfinding that foster comfort, curiosity, and a sense of safety. The flooring design at Cook Children’s Hospital will support a safe, healing, and engaging environment for children, families, and staff while meeting stringent healthcare performance standards. Interiors balance clinical excellence with warmth and imagination. Whimsical elements, storytelling graphics, and moments of delight help normalize the hospital experience without compromising safety or functionality. Clear wayfinding, legible signage, and intuitive spatial organization reduce anxiety and empower children and families to navigate spaces confidently.


Primary Objectives:
• Enhance patient comfort and emotional well-being
• Ensure infection control and patient safety
• Support staff efficiency and mobility
• Reflect Cook Children’s brand values and pediatric identity
• Graphic inlays to guide movement and reduce stress
• Subtle transitions to intuitively guide patients and families

Unique Installation Challenge Strategy

During this project, time was of the essence, as we were working within an active clinic which presented many challenges. Utilizing all the tools at our disposal allowed for a seamless transition from design to reality. One of our initial challenges was obtaining approval for the unique custom designs and products. By using MeasureSquare paired with Spec ID, we were able to create an all-inclusive submittal package that clearly depicted the products, locations, and methods of installation. With approval our team worked quickly and diligently to place product orders through Tarkett Custom program, a platform that was easy to navigate and well supported by Tarkett’s team. Once the product arrived, we began working through the phasing plans, which allowed for very small installation windows meaning timing was key. Using the shop drawings originally created, we printed plan sets for each installer on the jobsite, enabling multiple areas to be worked on simultaneously and ensuring the installation was completed in a timely and precise manner. Extensive planning went into each phase, and seamlessly tying into previous phases was key to achieving such a successful installation. Due to the tight schedule, it was not possible to waterjet all of the logos for the project. As a result, our installation team created detailed templates to cut the logos and patterns directly into the flooring. From the initial conceptual drawings through final installation, we were able to rapidly solve the challenges this project presented and deliver a finished product that the client is very pleased with.