First Look: UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health
Courtesy of Perkins and Will
The UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health will be the first public mental health facility built in Texas in more than 30 years.
Courtesy of Perkins and Will
Perkins and Will was engaged by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to design the UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health, a facility that will promote the health and wellbeing of patients and staff alike.
Courtesy of Perkins and Will
Registration spaces are designed to naturally aid appropriate and beneficial interactions between patients and staff.
Courtesy of Perkins and Will
The complex includes an external courtyard leading to a large, tree-filled area.
Courtesy of Perkins and Will
Amenities include a therapy mall, activity room, and a communal dining area with views onto an internal courtyard.
Courtesy of Perkins and Will
Residential units are situated around a central living area, promoting engagement amongst residents.
The UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus for Behavioral Health in Houston, a joint project of The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, is expected to open in late 2021.
Designed by Perkins and Will, the 220,000-square-foot project aims to reduce agitation and encouraging healing through lighting, acoustics, and visual aspects. Specifically, Perkins and Will created the design concept for the interiors that’s mindful of the effects of natural daylight and darkness on circadian rhythms as well as the impact of noise levels on stress.
The facility will initially contain 240 beds with 10 residential units, allowing the option to flex as the institution grows. Additional amenities include a therapy mall, activity room, and communal dining area with views onto an internal courtyard.
Project details:
Facility name: UTHealth Continuum of Care Campus
Location: Houston
Expected completion date: November 2021 (move in February 2022)
Owner: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Total building area: 222,000 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: $98 million
Cost/sq. ft.: N/A
Architecture firm: Perkins and Will
Interior design: Perkins and Will
General contractor: J.T. Vaughn Construction
Engineering: Shah Smith (MEP), Martinez Moore (civil/structural)
Builder: J.T. Vaughn Construction
Behavioral health consultant: Human eXperience Workshop
