Project name: Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital
Project location: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Firm name: Payette
Jury comments: Part of a master-planned expansion to an iconic 1970s megastructure, the building creates a cohesive, unified precinct for a rural medical center. The scope and scale of the project is amazing. It’s a very challenging site. A strong site plan positions the building smartly within its environmental context. The enormous structure uses a landscape-based arc to organize its components. The exterior is least remarkable, though the limestone, granite, and glass make a nice gesture toward reinterpreting the existing campus. Inside, the cheerful color and finishes are nice. It is subtle, dignified design that is clearly made for children without talking down to them. Light is well managed throughout. The architect accomplishes a lot though there isn’t a single feature that stands out. The design is thoughtful, sensitive to its program and audience.
