UW Medicine Center for Behavioral Health and Learning spotlighted in healthcare design and new video
August 19, 2024
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The newly opened UW Medicine Center for Behavioral Health and Learning was featured in-depth in the August issue of Healthcare Design, as well as in a video produced by our CannonDesign team.
Watch this video for an inside look at the building and to hear insights from leaders at UW Medicine and SRG + CannonDesign.
SRG + CannonDesign’s Lori Epler and Aimee Duquette, members of the project team, authored a piece for the magazine that highlights the myriad patient-focused design features of the landmark mental health facility in Seattle.
They write of the specialized services this building offers that fill frequent gaps in the accessible mental healthcare spectrum: “Many individuals with a mental health disorder often need longer-term treatment, a tailored regimen of care that is often not seen as compatible with acute physical conditions. This facility breaks the norms, providing key services not often found elsewhere.” This includes beds for court-ordered treatments, neuromodulation services, geriatric mental healthcare, dual medical/mental healthcare beds and more.
The article also highlights how the building marries trauma-informed design with biophilic design to improve patient and staff experience and outcomes. “A soothing neutral palette with warm wood accents creates a calming atmosphere, distinctly different from the sterile, institutional settings typical of traditional mental health facilities. Inpatient units include multiple opportunities for patients to access the outdoors, including porch-like areas on each unit and a large, landscaped terrace on the fourth floor.”
The building also helps UW Medicine’s mission to address the shortage of mental healthcare providers and help them work together. Lori and Aimee write, “The educational mission influenced the design, resulting in dedicated spaces for learners that facilitate collaboration among students, supervisors and professionals — including those studying to be psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists, pharmacists and more.”
The Center for Behavioral Health and Learning opened in May 2024, marking a new era for mental healthcare at UW Medicine and beyond.
