New York’s only freestanding pediatric health facility completed on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

The $270 million John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital in Buffalo is a new 410,000 sf, 185-bed facility that is the regional perinatal center and ACS Level 1 pediatric trauma center.

The Shepley Bulfinch-designed facility, which is the first freestanding pediatric health facility in New York, includes a 64-bed private room neonatal intensive care unit, labor and delivery unit, joint pediatric hematology/oncology unit, and comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services. The facility replaces the 125-year-old Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

An underground tunnel connects the 12-story complex to the Buffalo General Medical Center and Gates Vascular Institute to provide back-of-house circulation and utility connections. A sky bridge connects these buildings for patient, visitor, and staff circulation.

Exterior of the Oishei Children's Hospital Photo: Tim Wilkes.

Elevator lobbies and public areas on each floor face the main entryway with floor-to-ceiling windows. Each floor has a unique theme, color scheme, and environmental branding to assist families and visitors with wayfinding. Playrooms and public spaces provide patients and their families with a place to gather and relax.

The Fisher-Price/Mattel Family & Child Support Services Floor includes a Family Resource Room, laundry amenities, kitchenettes, family lounge, winter garden, non-denominational chapel, and a roof garden. The 64-bed Children’s Guild Foundation Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on the fourth floor allows mothers to be with their babies around the clock and features an all-weather solarium for respite. Each patient room includes ample space and in-room seating that turns into sleeping areas for visiting family.

The new facility has a 25% reduction in size from its former location and a $60 million reduction in its operating budget. Turner Construction Company was the general contractor for the project. DiDonato Associates was the Civil Engineer and Cannon Design handled MEP duties. Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. was the structural engineer.

During the second week of November, the architecture firm NBBJ launched a podcast series called Uplift, that focuses on the transformative power of design. Its first 30-minute episode homed in on designing for behavioral healthcare facilities, a hot topic given the increasing number of new construction and renovation projects in this subsector.

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