Susannah Odlaug
AssociateGBBNSusannah Odlaug, Fitwel Amb., is a healthcare designer and Associate at GBBN Architects. Her work focuses on patient and family experience in care settings, grounded in the everyday behaviors of children and families within complex clinical environments. Informed by experience with social- and activity-based design approaches, she helps translate clinical priorities into spaces that support dignity, clarity, and emotional well-being. Susannah works across scales, from waiting spaces to healthcare campuses, with an emphasis on supporting positive health outcomes.
E93 – A Tale of Two EDs: Designing for the Children’s Minnesota Twin Cities Campuses
No one shows up to a pediatric emergency department alone. Children come with families and caregivers during moments of crisis. This session examines …No one shows up to a pediatric emergency department alone. Children come with families and caregivers during moments of crisis. This session examines the design of the upfront area of two pediatric emergency departments for Children’s Minnesota, deli…No one shows up to a pediatric emergency department alone. Children come with families and caregivers during moments of crisis. This session examines the design of the upfront area of two pediatric emergency departments for Children’s Minnesota, delivered within one year of each other at campuses located 10 miles apart in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Attendees will learn how one health system established consistent design principles that support ped…No one shows up to a pediatric emergency department alone. Children come with families and caregivers during moments of crisis. This session examines the design of the upfront area of two pediatric emergency departments for Children’s Minnesota, delivered within one year of each other at campuses located 10 miles apart in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Attendees will learn how one health system established consistent design principles that support pediatric- and family-first care, recognizable arrival experiences, cohesive branding, and operational alignment, while allowing each campus to respond to distinct community and clinical needs. The Minneapolis Emergency Department, completed in fall of 2025, serves as the system’s Level 1 pediatric trauma center. The St Paul Emergency Department, completing construction in fall of 2026, responds to regional pediatric behavioral health needs as a key support space within the upfront ED. Attendees will also learn about the design process for a pediatric ED, including the use of augmented reality tools to inform arrival sequencing, wayfinding, staff visibility, patient flow, and health equity.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
