Families with children who experience behavioral health issues often have to travel to multiple care facilities to see multiple teams of specialists. In Flint, Mich., the new Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genesee Health System (GHS), a public mental health provider, brings together all of the GHS children’s programs, including its behavioral health programs, under one roof. It provides families a single destination for their children’s mental healthcare.
The facility aims to integrate and improve behavioral health care and primary care for underserved families. Designed by HED, the 60,000-sf facility unifies the three core children’s behavioral health programs—the Neurological Center for Excellence, Child and Family Services, and the Children’s Autism Center—as well as community outreach and a federally qualified health care center.
The Center for Children’s Integrated Services features a series of “autism pods” and an autism playground area. As a therapeutic tool, the playground allows children with autism to engage with nature through sensory-rich features. Autism has been one of the leading outcomes seen from the Flint water crisis, according to GHS.
HED designed the building’s layout to improve navigation and efficiency for patients, families, and medical staff, while also enhancing visibility and accessibility. The facility offers a secure drop-off area, a secure playground, a café, an outdoor plaza, and comfortable waiting areas.
In addition, the Center for Children’s Integrated Services will help develop medical innovation in the evaluation and treatment of lead poisoning. This work will inform best practices for treatment around the world.
The facility is located along a main bus line in Flint, improving transportation access to health services for low- and moderate-income families.
On the Building Team:
Owner: Greater Flint Children’s Mental Health Facilities, Inc.
Design architect and architect of record: HED
MEP engineer and structural engineer: HED
General contractor/construction manager: DW Lurvey Construction
Related Stories
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 7, 2018
Planning and constructing a hybrid operating room: Lessons learned
A Hybrid operating room (OR) is an OR that is outfitted with advanced imaging equipment that allows surgeons, radiologists, and other providers to use real-time images for guidance and assessment while performing complex surgeries.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 30, 2018
As telehealth reshapes patient care, space and design needs become clearer
Guidelines emphasize maintaining human interaction.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 28, 2018
$27.5 million renovation of Salah Foundation Children’s Hospital completes in Fort Lauderdale
Skanska USA built the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 7, 2018
Designing environments for memory care residents
How can architecture decrease frustration, increase the feeling of self-worth, and increase the ability to re-connect?
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 30, 2018
Orthopedic Associates of Hartford unveils plans for 45,000-sf surgical center
MBH ARCHITECTURE is the architect for the project.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 29, 2018
Outpatient clinics bring the VA closer to injured veterans
The Department of Veterans Affairs is making efforts to improve its construction management and align its design guidelines to industry standards.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 22, 2018
WSP-HKS JV signs deal for U.S. Navy construction work
The contract is not exclusive to the two firms, but it lets NAVFAC assign certain projects to them.
Healthcare Facilities | Oct 12, 2018
N.Y. builder pushes to get military trauma centers up and running quicker
To date, seven NICoE Spirit satellite centers have been built on the grounds of Fort Belvoir in Virginia, Camp Lejeune and Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, Fort Hood in Texas, Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, and Camp Pendleton in California.
Healthcare Facilities | Sep 7, 2018
Medical office construction isn’t keeping pace with the aging of America
A new Transwestern report suggests a “rethinking” of healthcare delivery approaches that lean heavier on technology.
Engineers | Aug 22, 2018
An electrical engineer’s take on designing successful pharmaceutical lab space
Patrick Licklider, PE, CEM, GGP, LEED AP BD+C, an electrical engineer in Clark Nexsen’s Science + technology practice, shares his perspective on what it takes to successfully design laboratory and manufacturing environments for the fast-changing pharmaceutical and biotech industry.
