Trillium’s Psychiatric Residential Treatment Services program offers short-term, on-site psychiatric services for young people requiring 24-hour support for emotional and behavioral challenges.
A multi-building campus completed in a phased approach, this facility provides private beds and common spaces in an inpatient clinic setting. Collaborating with facility staff, patients, and consultant groups to understand the physical and emotional needs of the occupants, we developed the design to be comfortable and welcoming yet still met the rigorous requirements for safety and durability of a Level V inpatient acute care facility. Construction details and product selections were critical in designing a secure environment for both adolescents and staff. Views through skylights and clerestory windows were used extensively, connecting patients with nature.
The building massing used traditional vernacular forms, with a contemporary twist, to enclose and identify each eight-bed pod. Common areas, staff areas, and classrooms join the sleeping pods around an enclosed secure courtyard. Being able to separate patients, and provide space redundancy to aid staff when moving from one area to another, was built into the symmetrical layout and was central to the facilities design. The use of operable partitions allowed units to adjust for occupancy changes. The exterior palette is a modern play on the farm home aesthetic, with rich cedar siding, warm metallic cladding, and bright accent colors.
Our work in healthcare and with Trillium Family Services has been transformative for our firm, both professionally and culturally. When environmental graphics were removed from the project due to budgetary constraints, TVA volunteers stepped in to design and build the colorful artwork along a section of wall in the playground. We are honored to support the important work that is done in the public sector, and especially work that helps those with special needs within our community.