Organization Background
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is a pediatric healthcare facility and primary care provider, renowned for its dedicated patient care, education, and research. Established in 1855, CHOP became the first hospital in the United States devoted exclusively to the care of children. It has grown into one of the world’s leading pediatric hospitals and research institutes, deeply committed to advancing the health and well-being of children through comprehensive medical, surgical, and rehabilitative services.
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, CHOP has been at the forefront of pediatric medicine, offering a wide range of specialized programs for complex medical conditions and diseases. Its commitment to innovation is evident in its state-of-the-art facilities, which include a pediatric research center that is one of the largest in the country. This emphasis on research and innovation enables CHOP to provide cutting-edge treatments and therapies to patients, often setting new standards in pediatric care.
CHOP’s dedication to excellence in pediatric healthcare is recognized nationally and internationally. It consistently ranks among the top children’s hospitals in the United States according to U.S. News & World Report and other rating organizations. This recognition is a testament to its outstanding patient care, exceptional workforce of doctors, nurses, and staff, and its significant contributions to pediatric medicine.
The hospital is affiliated with the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the top medical schools in the country. Through this partnership, CHOP plays a critical role in training the next generation of pediatric healthcare professionals. It offers a variety of educational programs, including residencies, fellowships, and continuing education courses, designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of pediatric healthcare providers.
CHOP demonstrates a strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) through its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI). The ODEI aims to empower and support CHOP’s diverse workforce, patient population, and community. DEI policies at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) are not only pivotal for the current landscape of healthcare but are also foundational for shaping the future generations. It’s vital for these future generations to see themselves represented in healthcare professions, inspiring a broader group of individuals to pursue careers in medicine, ensuring that the medical community reflects the diversity of the populations they serve.
By embedding DEI principles into its operations, CHOP ensures that children and families from all backgrounds are seen, heard, and respected, setting a standard for equitable healthcare. This approach helps in nurturing an environment where every child has the opportunity to achieve the best possible health outcomes, free from biases and disparities. Furthermore, as CHOP educates and trains future healthcare professionals within a framework that prioritizes DEI, it instills in them the values of compassion, respect, and inclusivity. This preparation enables the next generation of healthcare leaders to better address the complexities of a diverse society, ensuring that the advancements in child health are accessible and beneficial to all segments of the population. Through its commitment to DEI, CHOP is not just healing children today but is actively influencing how future generations will perceive, engage with, and innovate in healthcare to create a more inclusive and equitable world.
About the Project
Creative Repute, in collaboration with The ROZ Group, was hired to design a mural to be installed on a massive wall in CHOP’s new Hub for Clinical Collaboration (HUB) building. The HUB building was designed to assist the staff from CHOP’s Departments and Divisions in their mission to enhance the health and welfare of children and their families. Its purpose is to foster better connections among caregivers by physically linking it to the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, with architecture that emphasizes both employee wellness and energy-saving features.
This mural, part of a three part exhibition theme “Solving the Unsolvable,” was envisioned to be a vibrant and dynamic homage to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and its profound impact on the community, the nation, and the world. Designed to cover the main entrance walls inside of the new CHOP HUB building, the mural is a narrative journey that celebrates the hospital’s legacy of innovation, inclusivity, and care through a captivating visual story that spans past, present, and future.
A key inspiration for the mural was tied to the architectural vision behind the CHOP HUB’s plaza level, designed by Perking + Will, to foster collaboration and connection. Reflecting this intent, the mural’s collage-like composition celebrates the collective efforts that have powered CHOP’s community involvement as well as its breakthroughs in medical science and patient care. From the depiction of natural shapes found in human biology to the tools and equipment marking significant medical advances, the artwork captures the essence of CHOP’s mission to solve the unsolvable.
Our Approach
Our approach to the “Solving the Unsolvable” mural project was rooted in a deep respect for the institution’s legacy and a commitment to visual storytelling found in the archives that reflected its impact on healthcare, the community, and the world. Our methodology is designed to ensure that the mural not only captures the essence of CHOP’s mission but also resonates with all who encounter it, reflecting a diverse and inclusive perspective.
Starting with an intensive research and discovery phase, where we dove into CHOP’s history, achievements, and community contributions. This involved pulling archival paintings of leadership, gathering testimonials, and engaging with CHOP’s digital and physical archives to gather materials that informed the design. Our goal is to create an authentic visual narrative ensuring that every element of the mural tells a part of CHOP’s story.
We played with scale, position, line weight, spacing, and contrast to ensure the work was legible and accessible at eye level and from a distance, including through windows. Our approach involved creating a digital painting in which each element was layered and collaged together, allowing us to intentionally navigate around panel gaps or eliminate these gaps entirely during the printing and installation process.
The Outcome
Creative Repute provided a high-resolution digital painting that was printed on vinyl and installed on the wall. Our work encompassed the full commitment necessary to deliver the proper design file for printing, including research, local travel, attendance at meetings, hosting interviews, and consultations. We utilized a powerful computer with ample memory to store the digital drawings, along with digital drawing tools and software, covering all essential deliverables and services required to ensure the project’s success. We were committed to ensuring the proper installation method was used by monitoring the installers to offer tips on how to work around creases in the wall panels.
The collaboration, creativity, and dedication of all involved in bringing this vision to life underscored the power of art to inspire, unite, and celebrate the incredible journey of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
