Inpatient Mental Health Clinic

The mental health clinic project consisted of 18,000 sq. ft. of interior renovations of an existing area into a 19 bed in-patient unit, including adjacent outpatient clinic spaces, a new group dining room, day room, and a combination of private and semi-patient rooms. The initial project scope was undefined, the existing space was very small, and was a mix of occupied and unoccupied space, so project phasing and programming was extremely crucial.

The design team worked closely with clinic management and staff, who wanted the new space to be a softer, warmer and more inviting healing environment that would differ from the traditional cold, stark, blank spaces normally found in a medical center, hospital, or clinic setting. The clinic patients all have different levels of mental health issues; so the overall goal was to create a safe environment for patients and caregivers, but also create a space that was as aesthetically pleasing as possible. The design team essentially had to anticipate and eliminate as many possibilities of patients causing harm to themselves or others throughout the entire space.