A Floor Plan for Healthier Spaces
Boston Children’s Hospital uses terrazzo to bring natural patterns indoors, combining durability, hygiene, and a calming, restorative environment.
Healthier Spaces by Design
Healthcare and educational facilities need materials that last, clean easily, and reduce risk. Terrazzo supports these goals with zero-VOC formulas, slip resistance, and a non-porous surface that resists stains and microbial growth, improving indoor air and easier maintenance. Its seamless surface eliminates joints where dirt and bacteria can accumulate, reducing facility maintenance challenges and risk exposure, while its long lifespan minimizes operational disruptions and lifecycle costs.
More than just a practical finish, terrazzo offers designers a creative medium to bring nature indoors, using natural aggregates, custom color palettes, and organic patterns to evoke the outdoors and create environments that reduce stress and support well-being.
Nature Underfoot: Terrazzo at Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston Children’s Hospital, ranked number one by U.S. News & World Report, integrated these principles in the Hale Family Clinical Building. The expansion replaced the cherished Prouty Garden, home to a 65-foot dawn redwood tree. To preserve its memory, Shepley Bulfinch Architecture collaborated with landscape designer Mikyoung Kim, both of Boston, to translate the garden into the floor.
The 17-color epoxy terrazzo installation spans four levels, starting with a conceptual cross-section of the tree trunk and rings, and rising through abstract representations of the canopy. Natural-edge benches carved from the original tree and wooden play structures suggest its branches, forming a layered, immersive tribute. The 6,500-square-foot installation sits over radiant heating systems, combining visual storytelling with practicality.
Award-Winning Terrazzo Craftsmanship
DePaoli Mosaic Company of Canton, Massachusetts, installed the terrazzo. Founded in 1890 and an NTMA member since 1926, DePaoli earned a 2023 Honor Award from the National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association for this installation, recognized for both technical execution and artistic creativity.
At Boston Children’s, terrazzo provides a durable, hygienic surface while reflecting natural forms to engage and calm young patients, their families, and staff.
Read Similar Articles
-
Blog & News
August 15, 2026
Educational Opportunity in Floor Design
2020 Terrazzo Honor Award Winner: Fairforest Middle School, Spartanburg, SC“When the school district asked us to include a 100-seat planetarium in the design for the new Fairforest Middle School, we were inspired to make…
-
Blog & News
July 15, 2026
The Paradox of Choice
How to Conquer the Unlimited Color Palette of a Custom Terrazzo Installation
