Showcasing new donor‑funded surgical tower at UHN

Overview

The hoarding for UHN's new surgical tower at Toronto Western Hospital had several goals: to embrace UHN’s branding, showcase the hospital’s transformative vision for the space, and express gratitude to the donors who made the project possible. In addition, it had to be done within strict technical parameters due to the protective barrier's structural requirements. The KITE Studio team created a design that embraced the spirit of Kensington Market and the hospital’s connection to the community, featuring key UHN messaging alongside local artists' work.

The Ask

The hoarding was to support the largest infrastructure project UHN has undertaken in its history – the Toronto Western New Surgical and Patient Tower. UHN Foundation requested the design prominently feature its new campaign, “UHNITED” to solidify the importance of funding from philanthropy and donations; the City of Toronto required it incorporate community art to integrate the structure with the fabric of the neighbourhood; and acknowledgments from the Government of Ontario and as well as general information about the project also needed to be included.

Temporary construction hoarding was also required within the hospital to block the Nassau Street entrance. That needed to include UHN branding and provide information about the future surgical and patient tower to hospital patrons.

Exploration

We created several iterations of the interior and exterior hoarding designs that aligned with UHN's vision while meeting the contractor's exact specifications and adhering to restrictions, including the street jersey barrier height and the placement of mandatory signage. Through site visits, we obtained specific measurements and other crucial information to ensure the artwork was reproduced accurately and that the text met our high accessibility standards.