Architect: Architekton
Mechanical Engineer: Applied Engineering
Manufacturer(s): Building4Health
At the heart of Lily’s Pad AZ lies not just an ambitious project but a groundbreaking renovation venture meticulously conceived to offer a safe refuge for immunocompromised children. This project, marked by innovation and dedication, was brought to life through the collaborative efforts of Architekton, Baylor University, Applied Engineering, and Varitec Solutions. Each organization contributed its unique expertise to create a facility designed around the stringent needs of this special population, with Varitec Solutions playing a key role in the building’s indoor air quality strategy.
The inception of Lily’s Pad AZ was deeply personal, inspired by the story of Lily, a vibrant young girl whose diagnosis of leukemia at the age of three highlighted the challenges faced by children with compromised immune systems. The vision was to create a hyper-clean, emotionally supportive, and mentally enriching environment where children like Lily could play, learn, and thrive without the limitations their medical conditions often impose.
Varitec Solutions’ seminar on healthy buildings helped shape one of the project’s guiding principles: treating indoor air quality as a critical component of the facility’s design. That philosophy led to the installation of Building4Health (B4H) monitors throughout the building, providing continuous, real-time monitoring of indoor air quality. The monitors track a wide range of environmental parameters, including CO₂, CO, SO₂, NO₂, ozone, and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), helping ensure the indoor environment continuously supports occupant health.
The B4H monitoring system works alongside an HVAC system designed by Applied Engineering with indoor air quality at its core. Ceiling-mounted, fan-powered HEPA filtration units provide uniform distribution of clean air throughout the facility, while a humidification system maintains indoor humidity between 40% and 60% RH in accordance with ASHRAE recommendations for healthier indoor environments. Together, these systems create multiple layers of protection against airborne contaminants while providing a comfortable environment for children and their families.
Like many meaningful projects, Lily’s Pad AZ faced significant obstacles along the way. Fundraising efforts were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the project was forced to relocate after the original property was sold. Despite these setbacks, the commitment of the project team, community supporters, and numerous stakeholders never wavered. Today, the facility combines advanced HVAC technologies, rigorous cleaning protocols, and partnerships with organizations that provide emotional and mental health resources for visiting families.
Lily’s Pad AZ demonstrates what is possible when innovative HVAC design is paired with a mission of compassion. More than a playground, it serves as a model for creating healthier environments for vulnerable populations through thoughtful engineering, continuous indoor air quality monitoring, and collaborative design. Through the combined efforts of Architekton, Baylor University, Applied Engineering, and Varitec Solutions, the project stands as an example of how building systems can improve both health outcomes and quality of life for the communities they serve.
