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.

This week on The Weekly show, BD+C editors speak with AEC industry leaders from BK Facility Consulting, cove.tool, and HMC Architects about what two healthcare designers learned about the shortcomings—and happy surprises—of healthcare facilities in which they found themselves as patients, and how AEC firms can use machine learning to optimize design, cost, and sustainability, and prioritize efficiency protocols.