Hospital architecture and designs have transformed over time, Hospitals are not places generally associated with pleasure – after all, most of us are usually only at one when we or a loved one are sick. Traditionally, they’re not nice to look at, either: we think of over-lit and sterile environments, with visual stimulation limited to small, wall-mounted televisions.

However, a new generation of medical facilities is changing the face of the hospital, literally. These places take a more holistic approach to healthcare – one that takes the healing environment into consideration. As a result, the hospitals on this list may be more welcoming and diverse than those with which many are familiar. And while patient care remains their primary objective, many have put almost equal care into their clients’ surroundings. The elements in today’s best designs have been proven to improve patient care.


10. Harlem Hospital – New York, New York




The $325 million, 195,000 square-foot Harlem Hospital Pavilion, which was designed by global architects HOK, includes giant glass panels on its façade to form striking transparent murals. The huge, eye-catching frontage consists of reproduced historical murals by African American artists. Moreover, at night the artwork becomes even more engaging as it lights up softly from inside. The pavilion links the Martin Luther King, Jr. Pavilion and the Ronald H. Brown Ambulatory Care Pavilion, and it was completed in September 2012.

9. Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Center – London, UK

According to London-based architects Penoyre & Prasad, the design of the Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Center at Moorfields Eye Hospital “dispels preconceptions of hospitals to create an holistic, child-focused and welcoming environment.” The interesting aluminum projections not only add character, but also act to minimize solar heating. And at night the building is even more arresting, as colored lights bathe the façade. The hospital, which was completed in 2007, caters to children from birth to 16 years, some of whom may return to the facility over a period of years. An environment that is supportive of both patients and families is therefore particularly important.

8. Einstein Medical Center Montgomery – East Norriton, Pennsylvania.




The Einstein Medical Center Montgomery is a non-profit hospital located in East Norriton, Pennsylvania. The New York branch of global architects Perkins+Will designed the state-of-the art development, which was the region’s only new medical center to be constructed in more than ten years. The hospital was built on an old golf course, and the architects successfully retained 30 acres of green space, with the large windows of the structure allowing for great views of the setting. These surroundings include footpaths for patients, staff and the public to enjoy. Construction, which was completed in September 2012, used plenty of recycled and local materials, and the hospital achieved a LEED Silver certificate rating in 2013.  

7. Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children – Birmingham, Alabama



The Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children in Birmingham, Alabama is, in area, the third-biggest children’s hospital in America. Its shiny glass and white concrete façade is the work of global architectural firm HKS, Inc., which strove to make the facility a less frightening place for children than a traditional hospital would be. The interiors of the different levels are uniquely colored and easy to navigate, while windows provide both great views and natural lighting. The hospital, which opened in August 2012, is the first in Alabama to have won the LEED Silver certificate. 

6. Akershus University Hospital – Nordbyhagen, Norway




With Akershus University Hospital, Scandinavian firm Arkitektfirmaet C. F. Møller created a friendly, welcoming environment for patients and their families. Each section is given its own unique treatment, differentiating it from the others and providing varied visual stimulation. The hospital, located in Nordbyhagen, Norway, utilizes geothermal heating for most of its warming requirements. Sustainability was also a factor in the facility’s construction, and materials were locally sourced. The new hospital opened in 2008, although work will continue on the emergency department until 2014. In 2009 it won the award for Best International Design in the Building Better Healthcare Awards.

5. Rush University Medical Center – Chicago, Illinois







In 2012 the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago opened its transformed campus after a radical redesign of the 175-year-old institution’s complex. The educational hospital now presents a sleek, up-to-date exterior to match the cutting-edge methods of care within its walls. The Chicago branch of global architects Perkins+Will worked closely with the hospital and its users during the center’s design stage in order to create an optimal working environment. Its environmentally friendly construction also means that Rush is the biggest newly built health facility in the world to receive a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification.

4.  Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Children – Orlando, Florida



 
With its striking looks, the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Children, located in Orlando, Florida, seems at first glance to be something else entirely – in fact, it was conceptualized to be more like a hotel. The structure is made up of dark glass-covered towers, which rise from a triangle-shaped base. Worldwide architects Jonathan Bailey Associates say that this arrangement makes access to resources easier, helps the movement of patients and staff to become more efficient, and simplifies monitoring of activities. The hospital – which as its name suggests serves women and children – was completed in 2006, and it is now a distinctive landmark on the Orlando skyline.


3. Children’s Hospital in Orange County – California




There’s no missing the brightly colored, eight-level Bill Holmes tower at the Children’s Hospital in Orange County (CHOC). Texas-based architects FKP was behind the design of the striking facility, and the studio aimed to create a building that expressed a “vibrant spirit, progressive vision and a world-class sense of place.” The sense of fun continues inside the facility, as each level has its own nature-based theme, beginning with “fossils” in the basement and ending with “space” on the top floor. The new hospital tower, which was opened in March 2013, was constructed using sustainable principles, and recyclable materials were used wherever possible. 


2. South Tower Expansion for Providence Holy Cross Medical Center – Mission Hills, California




Global design studio HMC Architects was tasked with creating the $180 million South Tower Expansion facility located at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, California. The result is this elegant facility featuring a cool-looking white and blue color scheme. Reflecting the hospital’s commitment to sustainability, the new center has a Silver LEED certificate. The grand opening was held in July 2011, and the tower now provides medical care for women and newborns.

1. Outpatient Tower at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – Dallas, Texas



The new 13-story Outpatient Tower at Dallas’ University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center is the first completed and functioning installment of a new campus planned to replace the current St. Paul University Hospital, which dates back to the 1950s. Texas-based FKP Architects is the design company behind the $800 million facility. The tower has a light and airy feel courtesy of the large windows that encase the structure, and inside it houses ambulatory and diagnostic services as well as overnight patient rooms. The entire campus is expected to be completed in late 2014.