Universal Health Services teamed up with Valley Children's Hospital to expand behavioral healthcare services into the underserved San Joaquin Valley of California to acquire a site adjacent to the region's premiere children's healthcare provider. The new 128-bed, 88,000-SF behavioral hospital will serve the community's needs by providing psychiatric care to children, adolescents, and adults. Both inpatient and outpatient care will be available to offer a full continuum of services for those in need.

The new facility's design is focused on creating a warm and welcoming campus, tying into some of the playful aesthetics of Valley Children's while utilizing the Sierra Nevada mountain range as a beautiful backdrop. Efforts to break down the stigma of behavioral care continue inside the hospital with six activity courtyards, allowing light in the major hallways and places for various age groups to play and heal. On the units, inviting and contemporary colors and furnishings are part of the patients' welcoming experience. The treatment units are open with full views between staff and patients.

The staff experience is also carefully considered with places for on-stage (hands-on with patients) and off-stage (places for meeting, taking a break, planning, etc.). Mindful of the environmental impact, windows and daylighting strategies are paired with all LED lighting to illuminate the spaces. Additionally, we designed mechanical and plumbing systems to meet California's latest energy conservation requirements.

The design also blazes a new trail for HCAI, the state's healthcare planning department. This facility will utilize a new level 5 designation specifically created for behavioral hospitals to address California's need to expand this type of care.