The Child, Adolescent, and Adult Behavioral Health Services Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), designed by HGA, unifies Santa Clara County’s behavioral health services under one roof to address the region’s growing need for inpatient, urgent, and emergency psychiatric care. The new facility includes a 66-bed acute psychiatric hospital for children, adolescents, and adults, a 50-bed emergency psychiatric facility, a mental health urgent care center, and extensive clinical support areas. It also connects directly to the existing campus via a tunnel to the receiving and support center and a bridge to the main hospital, ensuring seamless integration of patient care.

Set within a fully operational medical campus, the project demanded a rigorous approach to logistics, safety, and technical complexity. Dense MEP systems required precise coordination with hospital operations, while the craning and installation of large power generators highlighted the meticulous planning necessary to deliver critical infrastructure within a constrained site.

From the start, the project emphasized human-centered design. Full-scale patient room mock-ups allowed staff to evaluate finishes, sightlines, and anti-ligature features under real-world conditions, ensuring safe, functional, and healing environments for patients. These collaborative refinements reinforced confidence in the facility’s ability to meet clinical needs while supporting patient dignity and well-being.

Scheduled to open in fall 2025, the Behavioral Health Services Center will provide a vital hub for psychiatric care in Santa Clara County—consolidating emergency, urgent, and inpatient services into a single state-of-the-art facility that balances technical excellence with compassionate design.