In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Lund Opsahl welcomed staff and community members for Designing for Behavioral Health, a panel discussion exploring how the built environment can better support mental health.

We were honored to host industry leaders Blake Webber, Senior Associate & Project Manager at HOK; Lorraine Glynn, PNW Behavioral Healthcare Sector Leader & Architect at Boulder Associates; and Jim Wolch, Principal at BCRA. Together, they shared insights on creating spaces that are safe, sensitive, and sustainable.

Key Takeaways:

1. Reframing Behavioral Health Design
   Blake Webber emphasized how far the industry has come in behavioral health design. He noted a shift away from institutional aesthetics—such as CMU walls and overly secure environments—as the default. Today’s facilities prioritize dignity and care, reflecting an evolving public perception of mental health. He cited his work at Western State Hospital and recent tribal projects like the Nisqually Healing Center and Quinault Wellness Center, which underscore the importance of culturally specific healing spaces. In many ways, he suggested, we’re returning to care strategies rooted in community integration—like when patients at Western once played in baseball games as a way to connect with and heal through community involvement.
2. Design Principles that Cross Sectors
   Lorraine Glynn highlighted the success of the “nature nook” in the DSHS Behavioral Health Facilities, a biophilic space where patients could quietly observe nature and find respite. This “third place” offered therapeutic value and a sense of personal agency. Jim Wolch noted that design elements that are effective in behavioral health, like clear sightlines, natural light, and open spaces, can be beneficial across project types. “A well-designed behavioral health facility could be a model for a K-12 school,” he said, adding that he recently toured a jail that unexpectedly demonstrated many of the best behavioral health design principles.
3. Community Advocacy Starts With Us
   Jim also stressed the importance of early intervention and the role that design and advocacy can play in making care more accessible. He emphasized that community interaction is a vital component of behavioral health, and that individuals have a role in supporting local resources. Facilities like crisis centers allow people to receive help early, before more intensive intervention becomes necessary. Lorraine echoed the need for spaces that support early intervention and pointed to the urgent need for youth-specific mental health facilities.

Thank you to our incredible panelists for joining us and sharing their expertise, experiences, and insights.