When children and families enter the new Connecticut Children’s Pediatric Specialty Care Center in Westport, Connecticut, they might not know it, but they’re experiencing the impact of a UHart education firsthand.
Completed in December 2022, the new, state-of-the-art space was a collaborative effort, one led by three University of Hartford alumni: Melissa (Nolan) Anthony, AIA, M’15, project manager and space planner for Connecticut Children’s; Nicholas Fucci ’14, M’16, project manager at Phase Zero Design; and Michaela Catallozzi ’11, project manager at C.E. Floyd Company, PBC.
Together, with a talented team of architects, engineers, designers, and contractors, they brought this one-of-a-kind space to life, transporting young patients from drab, sterile healthcare spaces of the past to engaging and experiential caregiving suites. Inspired by the beauty of the natural world, the new space was thoughtfully designed to include elements of nature and fantasy—from the charming meadow-inspired lobby to corridors lined with birds in flight, twinkle lights, and brilliant florals. Around each corner is another joyful surprise, turning a routine visit into an immersive adventure.
“This project was an opportunity to bring together the best in their fields to present a final product to the Westport community that didn’t just look and feel better, but was a more purposeful and efficient space that improved the level and caliber of care,” said Anthony. “Ultimately, it was our shared vision for success that allowed us to deliver on this commitment and create something we are all so proud of.”
As a result, in June 2023, the team was awarded the Connecticut Building Congress’s Project Team merit award for Healthcare (small) recognizing Anthony, Fucci, and Catallozzi and their collaborators for demonstrating best practices in teamwork and achieving high quality outcomes through this close collaboration.
In addition to creating an aesthetic that creates a warm, welcoming environment patients and families, the engineering, construction, and design teams worked together to ensure the space was accessible to a diverse patient population and ensured that the updates to the space improved the environmental standards and caused no negative effects on the surrounding community.
Melissa (Nolan) Anthony, AIA, M’15, College of Engineering, Technology, and ArchictureThis project was an opportunity to bring together the best in their fields to present a final product to the Westport community that didn’t just look and feel better, but was a more purposeful and efficient space that improved the level and caliber of care.