Case study
Underwater Children’s Hospital Play Area
Stollery Children's Hospital · Alberta, Canada
THE CLIENT
Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, provides specialized pediatric care for children and families. Beyond medical treatment, the hospital recognizes the importance of providing welcoming spaces where young patients can experience play, comfort and a sense of normalcy during their hospital stays.
THE GOAL
Originally renovated in 2007, the hospital’s existing 1,500-square-foot play area was ready for a major transformation. The goal was to create a larger, fully accessible environment that would give children of all ages and abilities a place to play, socialize and take a break from the challenges of hospital life.
The hospital envisioned an imaginative beach-themed escape that would provide recreational opportunities while supporting therapeutic programming led by its Child Life team.
SCOPE OF WORK
Imagination Design Studios (IDS Kids) collaborated with Stollery Children’s Hospital and PCL Construction to help bring the new Saville Family Beach to life. Working alongside the broader project team, including ACI Architecture, IDS helped create an immersive coastal environment filled with custom-themed features designed to spark imagination and encourage play.
The project required careful coordination with PCL, which managed extensive renovations and construction within the active hospital. The new themed elements needed to integrate with the redesigned interior, accessible pathways and connection to the outdoor playground.
IDS Kids’ themed elements included:
- Sandcastle Feature: A large, custom-sculpted sandcastle serves as a central attraction within the indoor play space, incorporating interactive elements, a TV, and a donor plaque wall.
- Submarine Entrance: A bright yellow submarine with porthole details creates an imaginative passage between the indoor Beach and the new outdoor Enchanted Forest.
- Beach-Themed Decor: Submarine-inspired murals, sculpted coastal details, and themed seating establish a playful ocean atmosphere throughout the space.
- Kitchen Corner: A whimsical crab chef and colorful themed details add character to the kitchen area, where children and families can participate in activities and cooking programs.
- Custom Donor Recognition: Playful signage incorporating friendly crab characters recognizes the generous individuals and organizations who helped make the project possible.
The completed hospital redevelopment also includes interactive games, sensory activities, craft spaces and a dedicated area for older children.
THE DESIGN & BUILD PROCESS
THE OUTCOME
The newly renovated Saville Family Beach and Enchanted Forest officially opened in September 2024, more than doubling the hospital’s original play space to over 3,000 square feet.
What was once a smaller indoor playroom has become an expansive, accessible destination where children can explore, interact and enjoy experiences beyond their medical treatments.
The new spaces support the hospital’s Child Life programming, including medical play that helps children prepare for procedures, creative activities, social interaction and outdoor recreation.
The transformation has also provided meaningful moments for families navigating difficult hospital stays.
From Christian Stevens, parent of a Stollery patient:
“It was a relief after five days of being in here to see him smiling, giggling.”
The project attracted local news coverage, with patients, parents and hospital representatives emphasizing the importance of having dedicated places for play and connection during challenging times.
For IDS Kids, this project demonstrates how imaginative theming, thoughtful design and collaboration with healthcare and construction partners can help transform a clinical environment into something more welcoming.
The result is more than a play area. It’s a place where children can step away from the hospital experience, reconnect with their families and simply enjoy being kids.
THE FINAL PROJECT
Client video
The Beach is really a safe space for them to come into being control of their activities and what they want to do. Just giving them back an opportunity to be in control of some elements of their care is vitally important to their growth and development and their coping in hospital.
