Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

Childrens Hospital Terrazzo 2 Scaled - Wisconsin Terrazzo

Terrazzo was the ideal choice for the West Tower of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, offering rich colors and a broad palette in a material that is highly durable and easy to maintain. It provided the perfect medium for the artistic expression of a design concept that could speak to patients of all ages. Using 22 colors, 13 different types of aggregate, and several water-jet logos, the designers created a way to transport children from a hospital setting to the comforting surroundings of nature. Each floor of the hospital is a graphic rendition of earth, ocean and sky, culminating in a collage of nature’s images in the lobby. Embedded aluminum and marble inlays of dragonflies, butterflies, fish, shells, leaves and coral appear to float within the background. Since the hospital’s completion, the terrazzo floors have delighted young patients and their families, surrounding them with rich and vivid images of nature, offering an important counterpoint to the powerful medicine practiced there.

The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Honor Award 2010