Pokemon Fever is reaching new heights at the Banner-University Medical Center jobsite in Tucson.
Since the middle of August, workers from our joint venture with DPR have been placing drawings of popular characters from the show on the side of the hospital tower that’s under construction. The tower faces windows at the main hospital building, which includes the Diamond Children’s Medical Center where kids often spend extended time receiving treatment.
“We try to find positive ways that we can distract the kids and remind them that we all care about patients and staff,” said Project Engineer Andres Herrera.
The idea was developed by a Banner-UMC Maintenance Facilities Technician whose family draws the 3-foot-by-4-foot characters and puts them on coroplast, a hard, corrugated plastic. Members of the healthcare facility construction team place the placards high enough to be seen by kids and adults in the hospital.
The characters are moved every few days to keep the game interesting.
“We know hospitals are serious places, but our project team is always looking for ways to bring moments of joy,” Andres said.
The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive and the figures will stay up until at least February, when concrete work is scheduled to be completed.
“This is so neat. The kids just love it,” Nursing Director Kara Snyder said. “I was in clinic last week and pointed it out to one of our kiddos and he grinned ear to ear.”
