The Brain, Mind & Behavior Center of Boston Children’s Hospital provides a central location at 2 Brookline Place for a variety of primary care services, including general pediatrics, auditory & speech, neurology & psychological services, an autism spectrum center, and a Down Syndrome program, plus x-ray, phlebotomy, and an MRI with MRI simulator, as well as research and laboratory facilities.

Given the special needs of the patient group, it was important to understand visual or environmental triggers, while attending to the staff’s requirements as well. A daylit lobby welcomes patients and their families with a calm, yet playful, indirect cove with slowly changing colors. To balance the abundance of natural light in the space, wallwashing and niche accent lighting were employed to create a balanced and sensitive environment. A comprehensive, concept-driven wayfinding system was dovetailed into a thoughtful and largely indirect lighting solution for the corridors, easing navigation of each floor and serving as the primary source of illumination in exam rooms. A separately controlled troffer was provided in exam rooms to contribute supplemental exam light, if required. All lighting in the patient and staff areas is dimmable and photocell responsive in consideration of best practices, local energy codes, and sustainability goals.