SPONSORED
Broward Addiction Recovery Center (BARC)
New trends in designing addiction recovery centers show a greater respect for the patients and safety of the staff. As such, we approached the design of the County managed and run recovery center from a perspective of behavioral health design, focused on executing best practices and appropriate design solutions in a compassionate, safe setting.
Good design can influence medical outcomes. The architecture is contemporary and portrays modern care with a comfortable, safe working environment for the staff, while the use of stone and building massing provides a strong government signature. Although the building’s exterior presents itself as a monumental institutional facility, the human scale of the entry to the reception area creates a feeling of intimacy and mental comfort much needed by clients and their family members.
The building’s functionality and interior design concepts ultimately serve four areas: outpatient services, inpatient detox, counseling, and administration. It was important for the clients to make each department in the facility easily identifiable to provide the user with a clear route to their intended location. This was achieved through the use of various colors throughout the building as well as color-coordinated signage.
Designed to achieve LEED gold certification, an important building feature is the central courtyard, which provides natural light throughout the two-story, 51,419-square-foot building and includes benches, landscaping, a water feature, and sculptures designed by local artists. Clients also have access to a large outdoor activity area that includes a sand volleyball court.
Project category: New construction
Chief administrator: Jack Feinberg, division director, BARC
Firm: Saltz Michelson Architects Inc., www.saltzmichelson.com
Design team: Saltz Michelson Architects Inc. (architect and interior designer); Chen Moore and Associates Inc. (civil engineer and landscape architect); Johnson, Avedano, Lopez, Rodriguez & Walewski Engineering Group Inc. (JALRW) (MEP engineer); DeRose Design Consultants Inc. (structural engineer); The Spinnaker Group Inc. (LEED consultant); Merlino Associates LLC (foodservice design consultant)
Total building area (sq. ft.): 51,419
Construction cost/sq. ft.: $368
Total construction cost (excluding land): $18.9 million
Completed: May 2018