It’s a new gateway to health for Oklahoma children – one that will welcome hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma’s youngest patients and their families in the next year alone. More than 200 medical professionals and special guests, including young patients of OU Children’s Physicians and The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center, gathered to celebrate the completion of the new Children’s Atrium two weeks before it officially opened to the public.

The Atrium with its six-story, curving glass roofline is one of the most unique buildings in the entire state. Designed by Miles & Associates of Oklahoma City, its profile has been compared by some to water slides or ski slopes. On April 4, 2011, the Atrium became the new front door for both The Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and the OU Children’s Physicians Medical Office Building.

“When you walked into the Atrium, I hope you found yourself inspired by nature in a space designed and built for children, filled with a host of family-friendly features and enriched with wonderful uplifting art,”University Hospitals Authority and Trust Executive Director Dean Gandy told the crowd gathered for the opening celebration. The Authority and Trust provided the vision, oversight and funding for the Atrium.

“This project has been exciting for all of us because of what it means for Oklahoma's youngest patients and for the physicians, nurses and other professionals who care for those children. With the help of our architects and our construction team, we have been able to create a very special space - a new front door welcoming young patients and their families to their doctors’ offices and to Oklahoma’s Children's Hospital,” said Mike Samis, chairman of the Authority and Trust.

Images from the OU Children's Physicians Atrium Grand Opening. Click any of the images to view larger versions.

The opening of the Atrium, located on Phillips just south of NE 13th, marks the completion of the second phase of a $136 million facilities enhancement project focused on children’s health in Oklahoma. The Atrium represents $29 million of the overall project. However, more than a third of that cost ($10 million) was donated by community organizations and individuals.

“This Atrium stands as a testament to the dedication of this campus to elevating the health of all Oklahomans through high quality medical care, education and research. It is another example of the renaissance that began more than a decade ago here and continues today,” said Joseph Ferretti, Ph.D., senior vice president and provost of the OU Health Sciences Center.

Infused with family friendly features, easy-to-navigate halls and simplified signage, the Atrium is designed to make a visit to the doctor’s office or a trip to the hospital more pleasant for both patients and their families.

“This Atrium is breathtaking in both form and function. It creates a welcoming environment where children faced with sometimes life-threatening illness can still be children, while receiving the advanced care they need,” said M. Dewayne Andrews, M.D., executive dean of the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

View the New Children's Atrium Grand Opening

The Atrium will serve as both an entrance and a gathering space for young patients, their families and medical professionals from both the hospital and physicians’ offices. Translating design to reality fell to the construction team from Flintco. Gandy explained the design, though beautiful, did pose an engineering challenge and he said that challenge was met by the team at Zahr Ford.

“This beautiful new front door for our hospital compliments the many enhancements that have taken place inside the hospital too. It sets a new standard and we are committed to carrying that standard of excellence forward,” said Chuck Spicer, FACHE, cef executive officer, The Children's Hospital at OU Medical Center.

Visitors to the Atrium have described the architecture itself as a work of art, but artwork is also an integral part of the interior. It features a massive sculpture entitled “Skipping Together” by McKenzie Thorpe and translucent butterflies soaring overhead in “Imagination Fly,” a creation by artist Shan Shan Sheng. In addition, a water feature with color-changing lights fills an entire wall on the east side of the Atrium.

“This is an impressive facility, but what is most impressive is what it says to every person who passes through this space. It says, ‘We care about children’s health here in Oklahoma.’ It inspires each of us to strive toward new levels of excellence every day,” said Dr. Terrence Stull, a physician and researcher with OU Children’s Physicians and chair of the OU College of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics.

The work of two renowned artists is now in place inside the new Children’s Atrium, bringing added beauty to the architectural gem.

Top artists from around the world vied for the opportunity to have their work featured prominently in the new Atrium entrance for Children’s Hospital at OU Medical Center and the OU Children’s Physicians Building. After extensive review, the art advisory committee, which included members representing the campus and the community selected Mackenzie Thorpe and Shan Shan Sheng, both internationally renowned artists.

Both created new, one-of-a-kind works of art for the Atrium. Thorpe’s masterpiece is a massive sculpture that depicts two children skipping. It now stands in welcome of visitors to the Atrium.

With the help of lifts and a dedicated team under the supervision of Sheng, her creation “Butterfly” was carefully maneuvered into place shortly before the Atrium opened to the public. The artwork features 32 butterflies, some as large as 8 feet tall, suspended from the ceiling of the atrium. Sheng said the work was designed to provide a symbol of hope and health. It sends a rainbow of color streaming from its translucent butterfly sculptures, inspiring awe in those who view it.

Meet the Atrium Artists

Mackenzie Thorpe Thorpe’s experience includes creating sculpture in a variety of sizes and materials including fiber glass, bronze, clay and mixed metal. He has a long history of working in children’s healthcare environments in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan. While traveling to exhibit his art, Thorpe works with children from all walks of life. He helps them express and better understand their adversities through interactive workshops where the kids complete their own art pieces.

Shan Shan Sheng Sheng is a Shanghai-born artist who came to the United States in 1982 to pursue her academic and artistic interests. The last 12 of her 20 years as a professional artist have been spent in the public art field. From her studios in San Francisco and Venice, Italy, Sheng has completed large scale projects all over the United States and China, and has artwork installed in three of the world’s tallest buildings. View the video of Sheng's butterflies installation.