Big Joy for Little Patients: New Sensory Rooms Bring Healing, Comfort, and Adventure
When hospitals feel less like clinics and more like calming playgrounds, something powerful happens—kids begin to heal in ways that go far beyond medicine.
That’s exactly what inspired the latest collaboration between Joy Collaborative, M Health Fairview, and the Thielen Foundation. Together, they’ve transformed hospital space into immersive sensory rooms designed specifically for pediatric patients. These rooms are now helping young people feel calmer, safer, and more supported during their hospital stay.
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This project is about meeting kids where they are, easing fear, and creating moments of delight, comfort, and discovery—all inside a hospital.
What Is a Sensory Room?
Sensory rooms are carefully designed spaces that help children regulate their emotions, reduce anxiety, and stay engaged—especially during stressful or overwhelming experiences like medical treatment.
Inside each room, children will find:
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Interactive lighting that sets the mood
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Textured walls and tactile panels to explore
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Nature-inspired visuals and projection systems
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Climbing walls, crash pads, and zones for movement
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Sports-themed tools to inspire play and confidence
Nick Engbloom, Senior Director of Development for Community Partnerships at the University of Minnesota Foundation, shares, “We want these rooms to be a refuge—a place where kids can feel safe, in control, and at ease.”

A Vision Sparked by M Health Fairview
This joyful transformation began with a question from M Health Fairview: How can we create spaces that truly support the mental and emotional needs of kids in our care?
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As one of the region’s leading pediatric healthcare providers, M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital is no stranger to innovation. They recognized that mental health and emotional well-being are essential parts of healing—and they were ready to do something about it.
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The hospital brought Joy Collaborative and the Thielen Foundation to the table to help imagine, design, and build something extraordinary. With input from staff, patients, and families, the concept of fully immersive sensory rooms started to take shape.
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Hospital leaders emphasized that these spaces needed to feel less clinical and more human—places where kids could escape the stress of procedures, find rest, or move their bodies in a way that felt fun and freeing.
Adam and Katie Thielen: Champions for Kids
When it came to turning this vision into reality, Adam and Katie Thielen were among the first to step up.
Through the Thielen Foundation, the NFL star and his wife have consistently championed causes that help kids overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Their belief in the importance of movement, play, and emotional wellness aligned perfectly with the goals of the project.
“We wanted these rooms to be more than just relaxing,” says Katie. “We wanted them to inspire courage and remind kids they’re strong and capable—even in hard moments.”
The Thielens didn’t just fund the project—they were active partners in shaping it. Their vision helped infuse the space with a playful, movement-based energy rooted in the belief that healing isn’t just about quiet—it’s also about confidence, joy, and trust.
“These rooms reflect everything we believe in,” adds Adam. “They’re about giving kids space to feel like themselves again.”


Designed with Kids in Mind, Built with Joy in Every Detail
Joy Collaborative brought the project to life, working closely with the hospital team, the Thielen Foundation, and other creative partners like Mortenson, JLG Architects, and Evergreen Creative.
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What made the process unique was the input from so many voices. From hospital staff to families to young patients themselves, everyone had a hand in shaping what the rooms would look and feel like.​
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Some kids asked for sports-themed areas. Others needed a quiet place to decompress. Many simply wanted something that felt like outside—so the design brought nature in with trees, soft colors, and projected outdoor landscapes.
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Mark Ostrom, Executive Director of Joy Collaborative, explains, “Some of these kids don’t get to experience the outdoors while they’re receiving care. So we created rooms that feel like an escape—somewhere adventurous, or calm, or both. It all depends on what each child needs that day.”
A New Model for Pediatric Care
By putting mental health, sensory engagement, and joy at the center of the design, M Health Fairview and its partners are setting a new standard for pediatric healthcare spaces. These rooms show what’s possible when hospitals go beyond medicine to truly care for the whole child.
“Our goal was simple,” says Ostrom. “Help kids feel seen. Give them a moment of calm. And show them there’s still joy—even here.”
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About the Thielen Foundation
Founded by NFL wide receiver Adam Thielen and his wife Katie, the Thielen Foundation is dedicated to helping youth overcome challenges and reach their full potential through programs that support mental wellness, movement, leadership, and opportunity.
About M Health Fairview
M Health Fairview Masonic Children’s Hospital is one of Minnesota’s premier pediatric hospitals, known for innovative care, compassionate staff, and child-centered spaces. Their commitment to whole-child wellness includes groundbreaking partnerships that go beyond traditional medical care.

