Seeking to divert residents experiencing mental health crises from an overburdened criminal justice and hospital system, Benton County Crisis Center (BCCC) will provide walk-in voluntary stabilization and longer term residential care services in a new facility in downtown Corvallis.
Conceived in cooperation with an array of regional leaders in public health, social services, and law enforcement, the design of the Crisis Center focuses on the concept of the building as an “embrace”. The prior experiences and immediate needs of each type of occupant inform the building’s organization, materiality, and supportive features.
The design balances sensitive application of durable materials that mitigate the risk of harm while eschewing institutionality. Safety provisions for clients and staff are artfully integrated into the facility’s planning, finishes, and access control.
As the first center in Oregon to provide these services in a singular facility, BCCC’s approachable scale, central location, and physical representation as an “embrace” will serve as a model for how behavioral health facilities can respond to trauma and provide both quality and dignity.