Scope: 10,000 s.f. conversion of medical/surgical unit to a 27 bed newborn care unit. Goal: Facilitate the invention of a new standard of care for ill newborns. Accommodate a new method of operation and provide a healthy environment for the people who lovingly care for the patients and their families. Challenge: Understanding and incorporating the intricacies and delicate nature of treating ill newborns. Designing a layout that took into account flexibility for cost effectiveness and creating a positive atmosphere while respecting the seriousness of this particular area of medicine. Solution: By de-centralizing the nurses's station and creating nursing work areas which are more accommodating to the patient - caregiver ration allowed for maximum flexibility in design, operation and staffing.