Pediatric Research Facility Design: Children’s Mercy Research Institute

Children’s Mercy Research Institute: A National Leader in Pediatric Research Facility Design

BSA partnered with Children’s Mercy Kansas City to design the Children’s Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) — a world-class pediatric research facility. This multi-disciplinary, nearly 400,000-square-foot building supports the integral nature of cutting-edge, technology-forward research that takes place within its walls. Every detail reflects evidence-based design principles, creating a healthy, productive environment for staff and young patients alike.

Project Overview

CMRI provides a state-of-the-art pediatric research campus with features including:

• Advanced research labs supporting translational pediatric medicine
• Clinical care integration for seamless patient-research collaboration
• Flexible workspaces that support collaboration across multiple disciplines
• Sustainable design elements to reduce energy use and support environmental responsibility

The CMRI is one of only 31 research facilities in the United States dedicated exclusively to pediatrics. Located on a hill overlooking the city, the multi-color glass building serves as a beacon of hope for families with children facing difficult diagnoses, and the spaces within highlight and support the cutting-edge discoveries that fuel such hope. This nine-story facility stands as a testament to the importance of pediatric translational medicine, accelerating the journey from lab discoveries to patient treatments—and back again. The CMRI transforms the field of pediatric research, integrating a translational model of medicine within a learning health system. As a result, CMRI increases the client’s research space by nearly six times.

“We are all working towards a common goal of discovering the cures, treatments, and devices that will help the kids who are in our care,” said CMRI Senior Director of Research and Development Kieran Pemberton, Ph.D. “We wanted to move away from the old-style, closed-off research laboratory concept. The new design [focuses] on collaboration,” he also pointed out. “Ideas will be shared, and discussions will take place between groups throughout the labs and collaboration spaces.”

Design Approach

BSA’s team worked closely with Children’s Mercy leadership and researchers to integrate scientific and human-centered design. Key strategies included:

• Evidence-Based Design: Optimized layouts for workflow efficiency and staff collaboration
• Transparency & Connectivity: Glass walls and open labs encourage communication while maintaining safety
• Flexibility & Future-Proofing: Modular lab and office spaces allow for evolving pediatric research needs

A Collaborative Vision for Pediatric Research

Clinicians, scientists, nurses, psychologists, research assistants, study coordinators, sociologists, mathematicians, pharmacologists, genomic informaticians, and others will inhabit the new pediatric research institute on Hospital Hill. Each floor spans nearly 42,000 square feet, with centralized communal spaces. These spaces include a single break room, lounge, and conference room per level, sparking interaction and connection across teams.

Science Reflected in Architecture

Rejecting outdated, closed-off lab designs, CMRI emphasizes openness and collaboration. The contemporary, all-glass design of CMRI easily separates the research facility from surrounding traditional brick-and-mortar hospitals and medical centers. The building’s design–interior and exterior–communicates the forward-thinking nature of the collaborative research within.

The institute’s striking all-glass, curved façade visually represents the DNA helix. Inside, a monumental full-height staircase connects every floor, symbolizing the seamless integration of research, care, and discovery. In addition, the building’s north and south façade designs each show a literal DNA pattern with a rare mutation.

The DNA patterns represent actual DNA sequences from four CMRI pediatric patients, according to Pemberton. “The sequences depicted in the façades represent the mutation that causes the condition for which these young patients are being treated at Children’s Mercy,” he said. He added that artwork inside the building is also science-based, generated by CMRI faculty member John Perry, Ph.D., scientific images of stem cells in a tissue culture flask. “The genomic studies we will undertake within this new facility are bringing environmental elements into the discussion of how a disease manifests itself. In this way, we are treating the whole child, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a pediatric disease.”

Designed for Impact and Community Engagement

The entry floor includes an auditorium capable of accommodating nearly 500 people. One floor above is the garden level. This open concept, ready-to-host space accommodates functions while also serving as a discovery portal. The floor is an invitation for community members to provide input about research they want to see CMRI undertake. As a result, decision-makers can ensure pediatric research reflects real-world needs and voices.

Connecting Campus and Accelerating Care

Finally, floors 1–5 connect directly to the existing Children’s Mercy Adele Hall Campus and medical office buildings, encouraging ongoing collaboration between providers and researchers. CMRI’s mission is to shorten the time and reduce the cost required to move from clinical research to bedside care.

“Accelerating the translation of clinical research into patient care is our goal,” said Pemberton. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, it currently takes $1 billion and 10 years to move from bench to bedside. CMRI’s innovative design and approach seek to transform that timeline—bringing hope and healing to children faster.

View other Corporate projects. View other Discovery projects.