The story behind 'Pedia-Pod,' BD+C's modular pediatric patient unit at Greenbuild

In the November issue of BD+C, you'll see our report on "Pedia-Pod," the modular pediatric patient unit we've helped design, outfit, and build at Greenbuild. Here's how it was developed.

As you may know, BD+C has a tradition of building modular "demonstration" buildings for Greenbuild: a classroom building at Greenbuild Boston 2008, an urgent-care center at Greenbuild Toronto 2011, a residential building at Greenbuild San Francisco 2012, etc. The goal is to showcase high-performance modular design and construction in a setting where designers, contractors, and building owners can see building products actually installed and working in a real building - in other words, a big step up from the usual trade show floor room booth. In fact, our urgent-care center was so authentic-looking that we had Greenbuild attendees stopping in and asking for medical care!

(SEE OUR PHOTO SLIDESHOW OF THE PEDIA-POD CONSTRUCTION)

Our journey toward the next year's BD+C demo building starts as soon as we get back from Greenbuild, with planning for the type of building we want to help create. After weeks of study and research, we decided on "healthcare" as the general area; further deliberation and discussion with experts in the field led us to the idea of a pediatric care unit.

The editors then consulted with top technical experts like Jane Rohde, FAIA, FIIDA, ACHA, AAHID, and Linda Gabel, AAHID, IIDA (representing the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers), as well as a slew of top folks at KLMK Group (now CBRE Healthcare), a consulting firm that represents many hospitals, for their ideas and input.

The experts guided us on key points for a pediatric unit: the use of the right colors (no Barney purples!), the importance of "positive distraction" in a pediatric setting, and of course sustainability issues, such as the use of low-VOC materials, paints, and finishes.

Our partners at NRB, the same modular builder that did our urgent-care center in Toronto, went to work on the design, iterating it back and forth with our technical experts until we got it just right. Then NRB's Pennsylvania division started executing the construction, all of which came together over a less than two-month period, using contributed materials and systems from our sponsoring building product manufacturers.

Pedia-Pod was shipped to Philadelphia on Tuesday (11-12-13). Minor outfitting is under way to complete the unit in time for the grand opening next Tuesday, November 19.

Pedia-Pod represents a unique collaboration between the editors and business staff of BD+C, our modular builder, our technical advisors, and our sponsoring building product manufacturers.

If you make it to Philadelphia for Greenbuild, please visit Pedia-Pod outside Hall E on the Broad Street side of Pennsylvania Convention Center, Nov 20-21. The editors and staff of BD+C look forward to showing you around!