SAFARI THEMED CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
A HEALING CLINIC FOR CHILDREN
IDS traveled to Saudi Arabia to bring murals, sculpted characters, and themed play areas to this spectacular new children’s hospital. Spanning five floors, this large-scale project surrounds patients and families with vibrant theming, playful characters, and immersive environments designed to make hospital visits less stressful and more engaging.
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Check-In Desks
Children are greeted by friendly characters, including a hippo in scrubs and a safari elephant—perfect for photos and smiles at the front desk. -
Play Areas
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Floor 1 features a themed tent with a built-in slide, where meerkats pop their heads through the roof. A sculpted log tunnel, topped with a baby elephant, offers crawling and hide-and-seek fun.
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Floor 2 is home to a baobab tree slide, guarded by a grumpy owl whose perch has been taken over by a playful leopard. Faux windows with sculpted tent details and custom murals enhance the imaginative setting.
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Corridors
The hallways leading to treatment rooms and clinics are lined with murals in silhouette and full color, themed to either jungle or undersea environments depending on the floor. -
Cafeteria Feature
A dramatic two-story waterfall sculpture spans the mezzanine wall. Inner tube-riding hippos and giraffes tumble down the rushing water while crocodiles wait at the base. Above, colorful bird sculptures are suspended from the ceiling, bringing energy to the dining space. -
Atrium Highlight
From nearly every level, visitors can spot a whimsical hot air balloon sculpture filled with jungle animals floating high above.
This expansive pediatric clinic project combines murals, sculptures, and interactive play areas to create a hospital environment that is both uplifting and unforgettable, encouraging families to return with confidence and ease.
We fell in love with the work IDS does the first time we saw it and knew it was perfect for our mission. Our clinic is dedicated to the health and developmental needs of kids. The facility is themed to attract kids and create a sense of well-being from the moment they walk through the doors.
The theming has helped in every aspect of the clinic. Hiring pediatricians is no longer a challenge – once they set foot in the facility they want to work here because the decor speaks to our philosophy and dedication to helping kids. In terms of marketing, everything we do revolves around the theming. We’ve turned the 3D characters into mascots and even print them on the lab coats to make them look less ‘clinical’. All the photo ops have hashtags. Our promotional videos are so colorful. Not to mention what it has done for the kids.
The kids love the theming. One of our groups has started referring to the clinic as “The Fun Center” cementing our desire to make this a place of wellness and development, not a place they are forced to visit.
My work on the clinic included research asking parents of children with different needs what was missing in their care to make our clinic more welcoming. After learning that members of the IDS sales team also have children with varying abilities I knew that they too had insight into what could make the clinic better. Their suggestions were invaluable, such as using silhouette murals within our autism ward, so that children who are uncomfortable with eye contact aren’t surrounded by characters. I really connected with my salesperson Elizabeth as it was all about the kids, not trying to make a sale. We had the same goal in mind to create a sense of well-being.
