Patient Care Starts at the Front Door: Wise Renovates the Boston Children’s Waltham Main Lobby
How do you renovate a healthcare facility’s lobby while keeping it open and functional for patients, families, and staff? It starts with careful planning, and success ultimately depends on communication and a commitment to the people who use the space every day.
That was exactly the challenge our team faced during the renovation of the 2,600 SF main lobby at Boston Children’s Waltham. Over seven months and three carefully planned phases, the space was transformed without interrupting daily operations.
The renovation refreshed nearly every visible surface, replacing wood finishes with a brighter, more welcoming design. A new reception desk, updated wall panels, fresh finishes, wayfinding graphics, color-changing architectural lighting, and flooring completely revitalized the space. The project also included additional lighting upgrades, sprinkler re-zoning, HVAC modifications, and new amenities including check-in kiosks, package storage, phone charging stations, and additional wheelchair storage.
The lobby was always open, which required extensive off-hours work, shifting containment areas, maintaining negative air, coordinating temporary security stations, managing elevator access, and constantly adjusting the schedule as conditions changed. Every phase had to be carefully orchestrated to ensure the space continued operating safely while construction moved forward.
Wise’s relationship with Boston Children’s Hospital has always been built on trust and care for the experience of its patients and staff. We view ourselves and our work as an extension of the hospital. For us, construction is about more than just getting the project done on time – every patient and family interaction matters, and even temporary spaces can shape their experience. For example, the festive holiday display, typically located in the main lobby, needed to be reimagined due to the construction and temporary containment area. The Wise team developed a custom overhead concept, obtained approval from the safety and engineering teams, and volunteered their own time to install it.
The decorations quickly became a hit with every person walking through. While checking on the finished installation, a Wise team member overheard a young patient look up at the lights and say, “I really like this hospital.”
At Wise, we work around our clients so they can continue their important work, especially when that work begins the moment someone walks through the front door.
Project Collaborators:
Boston Children’s Waltham
Payette
R.W. Sullivan
Jensen Hughes
C/W Design Group
ArtHouse Design
Wise Project Team:
Kerry Pavey
Roberto Grasso
Zander Hauck
Larry Sweeney
Justin Davis
Tony Ferreira
Andrew Paulhus
