The University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital has renovated its Michigan Game Day Experience playroom. The playroom was first built in 2011 when the new patient care tower was opened, with the purpose of providing an enjoyable and fun space for the Little Victors and their families during their stay in the hospital. This activity-filled space experienced lots of popularity, which is why the hospital decided to renovate the playroom to enhance its patients’ experiences even more.
“It’s meant to offer our pediatric patients, their siblings and their visitors, a place for relaxation and distraction while the patient is staying with us,” said Luanne Thomas Ewald, M.H.A., FACHE, chief operating officer of University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital. “As you can imagine, it’s seen its fair share of visitors over the years, and we felt it was time to renovate the space add new elements, and improve the existing elements.”
RELATED: Rx Kids May Expand to Ypsilanti
The hospital received about $650,000 in funding for the renovations, primarily from the Mott Golf Classic Committee and other sponsors from the Mott Milestones campaign. The project took roughly five months to complete.
“Renovations began in February 2025 and were completed in early June 2025,” Ewald stated. “This reopening is 100% donor-funded.”
On June 19, 2025, a ribbon-cutting event was held to celebrate the reopening of the playroom. This event featured an appearance by Charles Woodson, a former University of Michigan and professional football player and 1997 Heisman trophy winner. Woodson is also an avid Mott benefactor through his involvement in fundraising efforts and $2 million gift creating the Charles Woodson Clinical Research Fund.
The renovated Michigan Game Day Experience playroom includes many new and unique features for children to enjoy. Not only has it changed visually, with sports-themed inlay flooring designs, spotlight lighting and wall gradient in the Hall of Champions hallway, photos of sports and players, and other new artwork, but it has also created many more opportunities for the kids.
For example, there is a press box area, modeled after a professional gaming studio, allowing kids to play online games and learn how to design videos and 3D printed objects. Additionally, a lounge zone, including a 75-inch TV and gaming console, as well as new stadium seats, were implemented to ensure comfort during various watch parties and events.
Many interactive and physical activities were also added, such as new playground equipment, musical instruments, a scavenger hunt, hopscotch, foursquare and new sports equipment.
A golf area was added due to inspiration from the Mott Golf Classic Committee’s significant donations. Furthermore, an ADA wheelchair swing was placed in the room to make it more inclusive of patients of all ages and abilities.
“This space has been loved by our patients and families since the first day it opened,” she said. “It’s meant to be a space within our hospital where kids can just be kids and have somewhere to play, let out energy, interact and socialize.”
The playroom can be found on the eighth floor of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and is open to patients and families every day during normal visiting hours.
