Treetop Terrace, a rooftop garden perched atop Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care, is an oasis for patient and families to enjoy within the urban Philadelphia landscape. This space is also used by patients during therapy sessions for the hospital’s physical and occupational therapy programs.

Metcalfe designed a system of playful interpretive signs distributed throughout the 14,000 square foot space. Signs display the rules of the garden in a friendly and welcoming tone. Many signs offer fun facts to add in a layer of informal learning. Each of the smaller signs has a clear window in various thematic shapes – like a squirrel or a piggy bank - through which you can see the natural elements below. Since the flora in the garden changes with the seasons, the view through these windows changes as well.

HEALTHCARE // HOSPITALS // GRAPHIC DESIGN // ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHICS /// INFORMAL LEARNING // WAYFINDING