Special care nursery renovation improves monitoring, creates more space and privacy, and reinforces Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital brand
The revived Level II-E Special Care Nursery of Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital offers parents and siblings a comfortable place to spend time with premature infants and term infants with medical complications. The 3,100-square-foot makeover brings the spaces up to code, improves workflow, and creates a welcoming ambiance with a soothing color palette and soft lighting.
A central station gives nurses 360-degree views of the seven bays that surround the special care nursery. One bay has sliding glass doors for babies vulnerable to infections, while two are paired with a curtain between for twins. A shared sink between every two bays reduces caregiver travel distances.
Curving shapes and cheerful pastels soften the space. The central caregiver station features two rounded desks between an elliptical ceiling and matching carpet shape, which helps diminish the rectilinear walls and sharp corners required by the efficient layout of the nursery.
This project is part of a five-phase renovation of Delnor Hospital’s Maternity Center, including labor and delivery rooms, post-partum recovery rooms, well-baby and special care nurseries, operating rooms, staff support lounges and locker rooms, and waiting and support spaces. During renovations, temporary spaces were built and demolished to keep the department operational throughout construction.
