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Bringing emergency crisis care access to Central Pennsylvania

Location
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Offices
Client
  • Connections Health Solutions

Connections Health Solutions - Dauphin County Crisis Walk-In Center

Connections Health Solutions is a national leader in emergency behavioral health crisis care. They wanted to improve access to emergency crisis care and stabilization services across central Pennsylvania particularly in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry Counties. They reached out to us to help create a regional emergency walk-in behavioral health crisis center and a mobile crisis response program that would serve the tri-county area.

We provided medical planning, architecture, interior design, furniture selection, signage, and low voltage design services. Using Dauphin County’s natural beauty as inspiration, we designed a trauma-informed, empathetic, and therapeutic environment for patients experiencing a crisis. In programs such as these—where it’s difficult or impossible to gain access to the outdoors for fresh air due to site constraints—we brought the outside in.

People have an innate connection to nature that provides a calming response by lowering their blood pressure. We infused nature into the design through local inspired imagery and biophilic elements. In particular, Connections Health Solutions hired a local photographer to capture nature images inspired by Central Pennsylvania, which we then had printed on impact resistant panels for use throughout the center.

The new walk-in regional emergency center offers crisis stabilization and behavioral health services to youth and adults experiencing behavioral health and substance use crises. This center serves all individuals ages 14-plus in need of emergency care and treatment and is open 24 hours a day year round.

Location
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Offices
Client
  • Connections Health Solutions

Meet Our Team

Jon Sell, Principal

The social stigma surrounding behavioral health can be transformed by a well-designed facility that creates a positive community impact.

Stephen Parker, Senior Associate, Buildings, Health

By harmonizing mental health environments with evidence and empathy, we can design for humanity at its most vulnerable.

Thomas McLaughlin, Principal

What is most important is how we respond and work to solve goals—that’s the key to building successful relationships and client trust.

Brian Lim, Associate, Plumbing & Fire Protection Designer

While education and experience make a great engineer, I believe humility, structure, communication, and teamwork make a great leader.

Mark Nardy, Principal

Good engineering design is finding the appropriate solution that not only meets technical requirements, but also addresses human needs.

Jon Sell

Principal

Stephen Parker

Senior Associate, Buildings, Health

Thomas McLaughlin

Principal

Brian Lim

Associate, Plumbing & Fire Protection Designer

Mark Nardy

Principal

We’re better together

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    Partner with us today to change how tomorrow looks. You’re exactly what’s needed to help us make it happen in your community.

  • Design your career

    Work with passionate people who are experts in their field. Our teams love what they do and are driven by how their work makes an impact on the communities they serve.

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