The new Virginia Treatment Center for Children, part of the Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, is one of the largest free-standing children’s mental health centers in the United States. The child-specific center uses design elements to both destigmatize behavioral and mental healthcare and support healing.
The facility was designed for both inpatient and outpatient care. There are 32 inpatient beds with the ability to expand to 48 beds to support expected volume. Each inpatient unit is self-contained and includes 16 beds; an activity zone with treatment, therapy, and recreational areas; a clinician zone; and direct access to secure courtyard and enclosed backyard outdoor activity areas.
The outpatient clinic includes group rooms, 20 consultation rooms, and integrated research space. The one-story in-patient building connects to the two-story outpatient and administrative building via a central “main street” spine. In addition to the outpatient clinic, the two-story building also includes patient reception, security, educational rooms, therapy spaces, a half-court gym, and a faith center.
Floor to ceiling windows allow as much natural light as possible in and the color palette is warm and bright. A therapy mall includes occupational, recreational, art, music, and play therapy. The nurses station can control music that is piped throughout the facility.
The major circulation systems run adjacent to outdoor landscaping and patient areas include large windows overlooking private garden space.The exterior of the building breaks away from a traditional “institutional” style and instead opts for terraced and undulating curved forms.
Related Stories
| Nov 26, 2013
Construction costs rise for 22nd straight month in November
Construction costs in North America rose for the 22nd consecutive month in November as labor costs continued to increase, amid growing industry concern over the tight availability of skilled workers.
| Nov 25, 2013
Building Teams need to help owners avoid 'operational stray'
"Operational stray" occurs when a building’s MEP systems don’t work the way they should. Even the most well-designed and constructed building can stray from perfection—and that can cost the owner a ton in unnecessary utility costs. But help is on the way.
| Nov 19, 2013
Pediatric design in an adult hospital setting
Freestanding pediatric facilities have operational and physical characteristics that differ from those of adult facilities.
| Nov 19, 2013
Top 10 green building products for 2014
Assa Abloy's power-over-ethernet access-control locks and Schüco's retrofit façade system are among the products to make BuildingGreen Inc.'s annual Top-10 Green Building Products list.
| Nov 18, 2013
6 checkpoints when designing a pediatric healthcare unit
As more time and money is devoted to neonatal and pediatric research, evidence-based design is playing an increasingly crucial role in the development of healthcare facilities for children. Here are six important factors AEC firms should consider when designing pediatric healthcare facilities.
| Nov 15, 2013
Greenbuild 2013 Report - BD+C Exclusive
The BD+C editorial team brings you this special report on the latest green building trends across nine key market sectors.
| Nov 15, 2013
Pedia-Pod: A state-of-the-art pediatric building module
This demonstration pediatric treatment building module is “kid-friendly,” offering a unique and cheerful environment where a child can feel most comfortable.
| Nov 14, 2013
Behind the build: BD+C's 'Pedia-Pod' modular pediatric patient unit at Greenbuild 2013 [slideshow]
Next week at Greenbuild, BD+C will unveil its demonstration pediatric patient unit, called Pedia-Pod. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the construction of this unique modular structure.
| Nov 13, 2013
Installed capacity of geothermal heat pumps to grow by 150% by 2020, says study
The worldwide installed capacity of GHP systems will reach 127.4 gigawatts-thermal over the next seven years, growth of nearly 150%, according to a recent report from Navigant Research.
| Nov 8, 2013
Oversized healthcare: How did we get here and how do we right-size?
Healthcare facilities, especially our nation's hospitals, have steadily become larger over the past couple of decades. The growth has occurred despite stabilization, and in some markets, a decline in inpatient utilization.