The Desert Parkway Behavioral Health Hospital is a privately owned and operated 83-bed psychiatric hospital offers programs for short-term inpatient care and follow-up outpatient care for adults and adolescents needing psychiatric treatment for mental, behavioral, or substance abuse illnesses. The two-story facility’s inpatient services include education, recreation, and occupational therapy as well as both indoor and outdoor dining and activity areas.

The main challenge of this project was achieving a healing environment that also provided for the safety and welfare of a troubled and potentially violent population within an aggressive budget. Much of the patient safety is achieved through careful planning of the patient flow in order to minimize conflicts in patient circulation. Durable, cleanable surfaces are used and all fixtures, finishes and furniture are abuse resistant, tamper-proof and anti-ligature for patient safety. High ceilings, light materials and ample daylighting help provide a calming, healing environment. Secured patient units have direct access to exterior courtyard spaces for outdoor activities. These spaces were designed with protected openings for airflow and shade which also reduce the ability for patient escape.

Considerable attention was paid in designing the facility to protect the patient population from harm in such a way that didn’t feel institutional or prison-like. This was achieved by using durable materials such as masonry and metal patterned in a way to break down the mass and provide a visual texture to the project. Where possible, natural looking finishes like wood-patterned sheet vinyl flooring and mosaic ceramic tile were used to give the facility a more organic look. Regional colors and materials were utilized both to give the facility an appropriate aesthetic anchored to its context, as well as sourcing materials as closely as possible to reduce cost and environmental impact.