Southwood Children’s Behavioral Healthcare partnered with IKM Architecture to design a 66,371-square-foot inpatient facility for adolescents in Pittsburgh, PA. A key design goal was to create a space that felt approachable and comforting for children and their families during an emotionally challenging time.

The exterior features a colorful façade of bright yet calming panels, selected to promote a welcoming atmosphere. Inside, the client requested a nature-themed graphic at each elevator bay to help ease patient transitions. Using the interior designer’s color palette and exterior tones, I created a series of 12-foot landscape illustrations featuring trees, mountains, and a soft gradient sky. The client loved them and asked that the designs be extended across all six patient corridors  and into the administrative office areas. 

I expanded the original illustrations into 112-foot continuous murals, ensuring no repeated elements so patients could feel immersed in a unique, soothing landscape. Each hallway included a single hidden moon, a playful detail for patients to discover.

The final illustrations were prepared for production on Acrovyn wall protection panels, balancing visual impact with durability for the healthcare setting.