Hughes Center: Design with Heart

Our projects always have a story, and we love sharing how our designs improve people's lives. We recently completed the Hughes Center for Universal Health Services (UHS) in Danville, VA, where we created the "first-of-its-kind" prototype residential treatment center serving children with a broad spectrum of behavioral health needs.

Here's the rest of the story.

A successful businessman named John E. Hughes sought to care for orphaned children in Danville, VA, and neighboring communities. After his passing in 1922, his estate allowed The Hughes Home to open in 1927, and it has been caring for children ever since.

In 2006, UHS transformed the care model to serve children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and behavioral health needs. After some time, UHS recognized that the aging multi-building campus needed to be more conducive to the kind of care it aspired to provide for the specific needs of its residents.

In response, JJCA’s team, including Tim Morgan and Sarah Stevens, developed this prototypical residential treatment center plan that could serve the needs of children and adolescents. The 96-bed Hughes Center is the first built implementation of this prototype. The design features 1-bed, 2-bed, and 3-bed rooms on each unit to allow care for various patient needs, a school for ASD community members and residents, and multiple outdoor spaces with activity space tailored to ASD needs.

While working with the Center leadership to create the new design, we interviewed the former facility manager, who had a special history with the campus. He had not only worked there for decades but also been cared for as an orphan when he was a young boy. To say that he had a vested interest in the new design's success is an understatement!

John Hughes' legacy of transforming lives has endured for nearly a century, and UHS is committed to honoring that vision through its ongoing investment in this vital facility. At JJCA, we share that commitment. Our passion for enhancing the human experience drives us to create spaces that not only meet the unique needs of patients today but also continue the mission of care and compassion that John Hughes began so many years ago.