Kentucky Children’s Hospital sits within the University of Kentucky Medical Center. Spanning 46,750 square feet, the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) renovation and expansion included 72 beds and a new entry sequence from the Medical Center atrium.

Pivotal collaborated closely with the project team to develop concepts, mockups, final detailing, and control strategies, including backlit color-changing walls in the main entry lobby and waiting areas. However, the NICU patient rooms required the most complex design strategies. Due to the unavailability of daylight in these spaces, the primary lighting design goal was to reinforce circadian cycles by manipulating the timing, distribution, color, and electric light intensity.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) provided current circadian lighting research and initial design concepts. The Pivotal team combined LRC concepts, stringent NICU design guidelines, and University of Kentucky design standards for a cohesive and functional healthcare facility.