Cincinnati Children’s Union Medical Office Building

Experiential Graphics- Large scale (environments or systems)

Project Narrative

The Cincinnati Children’s Brandon & Kelly Janszen Union Kentucky Building is a 27,000-square-foot outpatient facility designed to expand access to primary and specialty pediatric care in Northern Kentucky. More than a medical building, it is envisioned as a welcoming community anchor where environmental graphics, signage, art, and positive distractions transform the patient and family experience.

The graphics program begins with exterior signage and site wayfinding that provide visibility and orientation from the busy highway and surrounding development. These elements create a smooth transition from arrival into the facility, setting the tone for what families will experience inside. Once through the doors, the focus shifts to a richly layered interior where graphics do more than identify spaces—they invite discovery, ease anxiety, and support navigation.

The guiding design concept, Happy Home, draws inspiration from Union’s family values and Boone County’s natural landscapes. Each clinic suite is paired with a distinct animal and its habitat, creating memorable alliterative anchors for orientation. Oversized murals transform corridors and suite entries into immersive environments, making wayfinding intuitive even for the youngest visitors.

Beyond wayfinding, murals and graphics encourage play. Alcoves carved into circulation spaces become hideaways where children can explore, rest, or play, turning ordinary hallways into moments of engagement. Waiting areas feature interactive projections like Shadow Puppet Friends, QR-activated Seek-N-Find Storytime features, and floor graphics that invite movement. These layered distractions make waiting feel shorter and less stressful, while offering caregivers much-needed relief.

Artwork adds another dimension, blending professional nature-inspired pieces with kid-created works developed with local schools. These paintings of animals in their habitats bring vibrancy, texture, and a sense of community to the clinical setting, reinforcing the Happy Home theme.

The signage and wayfinding system supports a complex program combining primary care, specialty clinics, radiology, lab, and behavioral health under one roof. A cohesive system of typography, iconography, and color ensures clarity at multiple scales, from suite identifiers to exam room numbers. Durable materials and consistent placement make the system reliable and easy to maintain across high-traffic areas.

This integrated approach shows how environmental graphics go beyond decoration to improve the healthcare experience. Murals, playful alcoves, interactive distractions, and clear wayfinding create a facility that feels less clinical and more like a welcoming home—helping children and families feel supported, oriented, and uplifted throughout their journey of care.