Adult Behavioral Health Center at the Bronx Psychiatric Center

The Adult Behavioral Health Center is the first new adult patient facility designed and constructed for the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) in the past 20 years. Within the sprawling 85-acre Bronx Psychiatric Center campus, the modern structure reflects a philosophical shift in mental health treatment that envisions patients returning to their families and communities sooner.

STV provided architectural and engineering design services for the new Adult Behavioral Health Center, which defies the traditional look and feel of a mental health hospital. Natural daylight pours into the airy, open environment and wide corridors ensconced in high-quality wood and metal finishes. A unique “treatment mall” concept promotes independence and socialization while maintaining a safe environment. 

Located on former wetlands, the 179,000-square-foot, 156-bed facility required a deep foundation system and introduced a buckling restrained braced frame (BRBF) system to support the five-story steel structure—the first time this system has been used in New York. The BRBF system reduced structural steel costs and increased interior program space.