Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Opens Silver LEED-Certified Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) celebrated the grand opening of its Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care. The Family Fall Festival and ribbon-cutting ceremony, held on November 7, was designed to recognize the 4,200 donors – more than 1,300 of them CHOP employees – who helped raise over $96 million towards design and construction of the Buerger Center, the nation's most advanced outpatient facility for pediatric care.

"The Buerger Center is the biggest and most exciting project CHOP has undertaken since the hospital moved to its current location in 1974," said Madeline Bell, president and CEO of CHOP. "So many people contributed to make The Buerger Center a reality. The Buerger family's landmark $50 million gift is equal to the largest in the hospital's history and is helping to shape the hospital's future. Additionally, I am particularly proud that more than 1,300 CHOP employees, led by our employee cabinet, donated to the construction of the Center. It is because of their generosity that this building is setting a new standard for pediatric outpatient care – not just here at CHOP, but around the world."

The event, hosted on the hospital's Raymond G. Perelman Campus, included live stage entertainment, food truck vendors, strolling performers, caricature artists and more. Ribbon-cutting ceremony speakers included Madeline Bell, representatives from the Buerger family and Cesar Pelli, senior principal at Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects. In addition to Pelli Clarke Pelli, additional event sponsors included Direct Energy, Giant Food Stores, FKP Architects, Independence Blue Cross and Kitchen Gia.

The Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care is a state-of-the-art, Silver LEED-certified building designed to provide the ideal patient experience and ease stress for visiting families. Much of the care in the Buerger Center is offered through groups of related specialties sharing clinical space, like neighborhoods. The arrangement is designed to facilitate clinician and staff collaboration, as well as simplify visits for patients and their families. Significant building features include:

• Spacious, natural and light-filled waiting rooms for families, featuring "Wait. Play. Learn." areas;
• A building-wide theme – "Children in Motion" – that utilizes images to promote a culture of wellness and activity, as well as enhance patient navigation;
• A multipurpose roof garden for recreation, respite and rehabilitation sessions;
• A landscaped, outdoor garden plaza to provide a safe, open area for play, entertainment, reflection and emotional recharging.

Please visit http://chopbuildinghope.org/ for additional building details.