The new Red Rock Behavior Health Services facility in Weatherford was designed to promote client health and healing, according to project architect Douglass G. Howard of Howard and Associates.
Red Rock’s last new build was in 2008 with a variety of renovations since, and a lot has changed in the mental health industry. The No. 1 priority for this project was creating a design which is user friendly, which recently has become a priority in many health care facilities.
The design follows guidelines for mental crisis facilities to create a safe, welcoming space for those in need of help. This includes choosing fixtures and materials clients cannot use to hurt themselves.
The new facility features a lot of natural light and glass windows to create a more enjoyable atmosphere for its clients and staff. This need for natural light meant the firm could not design a typical, rectangular building.
The building consists of five different wings which house the different areas: administration, children’s counseling, adult counseling and crisis waiting area. The adult crisis center and clinical area is separated from the rest of the wings.
One priority during the design was to avoid an institutional feeling. Large, impressionist works by Oklahoma artists hangs on the walls. In addition, colors and furniture were chosen to create a more comfortable atmosphere.
The building has the ability to go into full lockdown. The building also has high-impact sheetrock in the crisis facilities. It also meets the sound and visual controls required by HIPAA.
“Mental health is changing today,” Howard said. “Now there are choices for the consumers about where they want to go. Red Rock wanted to stay competitive.”
Howard said making the grounds welcoming also was a priority in the design. The outside is surrounded by natural stone and blue-green glass which costs more but keeps the building from looking too institutional.
The grounds feature a healing garden designed by landscape architect Mark Myers with Courtyard Gardens. The garden, positioned in the center of the facility became a focal point with the rest of the building designed around it. Because landscape can help with therapy, the gardens have a symmetrical design with trees and other plants.
A custom sculpture sits in the middle of the garden. It was created by a former client who was suicidal but got the care he needed while at Red Rock. The 4-foot piece was made out of recycled materials.
Howard has worked with Red Rock since 1990 and helped with the new buildings and remodels throughout the last 30 years. He said this is the most stateof-the-art facility the organization has ever built.
“It’s been a fun project for me as an architect,” Howard said.
Read more about Red Rock and its services in the Red Rock special section included with this edition.