About the Client/Project: The Health & Human Services Department of the County of San Diego wanted improvements to a deteriorated facility in order to accommodate a new Juvenile Mental Health Crisis Assessment and Stabilization Center. The facility is intended to hold a teen for 24 hours until assessments are made, and when stabilized, the teen is transferred to a more specialized facility to assist in recovery.
Project Challenge: The facility, in order to accommodate youth in crisis, needed to include safety/security features.
Architectural Solution: Platt/Whitelaw Architects completed an assessment of the original facility, and completed conceptual plans. The firm then completed full services integrating biophilic elements, artwork, and colors to ease anxiety, safety features to prevent self-harm and introduced sustainable materials for durability.
Final Result: Construction was complete in September 2017. The Crisis Assessment facility was in operation by December 2017.
Photography by Bill Robinson Photography
