During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, it became clear rather quickly that the healthcare system in the U.S. wasn’t flexible enough to handle the surge in patient capacity brought on by the spread of COVID-19. As hospitals and other medical facilities rethink their operations, future-ready patient services are likely to be more common.
Case in point: the two-story 20,800-sf West County Behavioral Health Center, which opened on March 9 in San Pablo, Calif. This standalone facility, next to the West County Health Center, moves behavioral health services out of a neighboring building. It has the capacity to treat 2,300 adult and 400 child patients annually.
Although not technically required for mental-health clinics, Contra Costa County decided to make the new building compliant with Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development 3 regulations for Administrative, Building, and MEP codes pertaining to licensed outpatient clinics. The county made this decision at the recommendation of HED, the design firm that co-led this design-build project with Overaa Construction. (HPS Architects completed the initial schematics.)
“HED believes that California’s commitment to regulating design and construction of healthcare buildings through OSHPD results in stronger, more resilient community infrastructure for health,” explains Tim Hurvitz, HED’s Healthcare Studio Leader. “Even given the time constraints and fast pace of the project, this decision was one that not all counties would have made, but we believe will provide great value long into the future.”
The new facility can treat 2,300 adult and 400 child patients annually.
MEETS THE STATE’S TOUGH SEISMIC REGS
The new building helps alleviate the main health center’s flow of patients for crisis counseling and brief therapy for specific behavioral issues. It also protects patients from contracting contagious illnesses that are often found at typical county health facilities.
Located in an active seismic zone, the building was designed to account for potential future seismic events. For example, a large vertical drift joint was incorporated, and hidden, within the design. The building, which was planned and designed in six months, meets California’s strict seismic requirements.
The LEED Silver-certified facility is distinguished by expansive glazing and colorful walls that are paired with different scales and patterns on the carpeted floors, which offer wayfinding and zoning.
Natural and artificial light combine to illuminate the clinic's lobby.
Related Stories
Great Solutions | Jan 6, 2016
Shepley Bulfinch develops elegant design solution to address behavioral issues in emergency departments
ED scheme allows staff to isolate unruly patients and visitors in a secure area.
Great Solutions | Jan 4, 2016
Toronto’s newest hospital employs 10 robots for moving food, supplies, and equipment
The 1.8 million-sf Humber River Hospital is loaded with high-tech gadgets. Its coolest innovation is the use of automated guided vehicles.
Urban Planning | Jan 4, 2016
The next boomtown? Construction and redevelopment sizzle in San Diego
The city's emission-reduction plan could drive influx into downtown
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 29, 2015
Wood materials aid in patient recovery in healthcare environments
Report says patient recovery times, pain perception, stress levels improve where natural materials are present.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 15, 2015
What the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 means for healthcare real estate development
CBRE Healthcare's Charles Maggio breaks down the impacts of the new legislation, which affects outpatient facilities.
Greenbuild Report | Dec 10, 2015
Sustainable performance: Hospital systems’ new financial and marketing imperative
Several years ago, the healthcare industry would have ranked in the bottom tier among adopters of sustainable design and construction. Now, it is outpacing other nonresidential sectors in moving toward high-performance, healthy environments.
Healthcare Facilities | Dec 2, 2015
Check out Perkins+Will’s ultra-transparent research center for the Allen Institute for Brain Science
The design orients labs like flower petals around a large light-filled central atrium; the effect is like the inside of a bee hive where researchers can see each other and what they are doing.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 6, 2015
Paint company unveils product that can kill bacteria in hospitals
The new product from Sherwin-Williams, called Paint Shield, is said to not only kill over 99.9% of dangerous bacteria, but also reduces growth of “common microbes.”
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 4, 2015
Hospital designers get the scoop on the role of innovation in healthcare
“Innovation” was the byword as 175 healthcare designers gathered in Chicago for the American College of Healthcare Architects/AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Summer Leadership Summit.
Healthcare Facilities | Nov 2, 2015
Final funding comes through to complete over-budget and behind-schedule Denver VA Medical Center
The Department of Veterans Affairs, cited for its mismanagement, is stripped of control over future major construction.