Loma Land at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital

Loma Linda, CA

Hospitals can be intimidating places, especially for children. To ease anxiety and replace fear with creativity, Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital partnered with NBBJ and ESI to create Loma Land—an interactive digital wilderness that surrounds young patients with colorful creatures, rustling plants and soothing sounds inspired by California’s native landscape.

Children are invited to design their own forest friend, choosing from local animals and adding whimsical accessories like acorn hats or sparkly sunglasses. Once created, their animal companion comes to life, allowing kids to interact with it one-on-one or “release” it into the 60-foot digital forest to play with other creatures. Every moment is designed to reduce stress and spark joy, transforming hospital visits into immersive adventures.

Features

With little precedent for large-scale digital experiences in pediatric care settings, the ESI team drew inspiration from installations in libraries, children’s museums and games. Loma Land’s lifelike forest creatures are designed using a video game engine, creating natural movement and dynamic interactions that feel real to every child, and the final design was extensively tested using a full-scale mockup at NBBJ and ESI's New York office.

Each day, more than 300 animals are created by patients, totaling 18,000 in two months. As Rachelle Bussell, senior vice president of advancement for Loma Linda University Health tells Fast Company magazine, “I’ve seen kids go from crying and stressed, mom’s holding their hand and they don’t want to be there, to interacting and having fun.”

Project Details

Client Name
Loma Linda University Health

Square Footage
Overall Area: 1,500 SF
Media Displays: 415 SF

Program
Digital Art Installation

Services
Experience design, interior design

Phase
Completed