Meeting a Growing Need for Pediatric Behavioral Health Care

Intermountain Primary Children's Behavioral Health Center in Taylorsville’s campus addresses the urgent and increasing demand for pediatric mental health services in the Salt Lake City area. Replacing outdated infrastructure and consolidating fragmented services, the facility brings together a full spectrum of care in a single, integrated setting. We leveraged our deep expertise in behavioral health design to create an environment that promotes healing, safety and dignity for young patients and their families.

Designing for Healing, Safety and Connection

Our design for the facility reflects a holistic approach to behavioral healthcare, supporting a wide range of services along the continuum of care, including inpatient, outpatient, crisis assessment, partial hospitalization and day treatment. Every design element was guided by empathy, clinical excellence and a focus on long-term resilience.

The campus is designed not only to consolidate services, but to significantly broaden the scope and accessibility of care. It increases inpatient capacity to 36 beds, including Utah’s first dedicated unit for youth with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions — providing specialized care in a safe, supportive setting. Outpatient areas are tailored for more intensive programming, including day treatment and group therapy, while a newly introduced Crisis Walk-In Center offers families a direct, compassionate alternative to emergency departments during moments of acute need. Throughout, the design prioritizes family involvement, with overnight accommodations and spaces that foster active participation in the healing process.

Key design features include:

• Natural light and outdoor access to reduce stress and support recovery
• Durable, anti-ligature materials and clear sightlines to promote safety
• Noise-reduction strategies and spaces for smaller group sizes to create a calm environment
• Family-centered spaces that encourage connection and support healing
• Staff-focused design with intuitive circulation and daylight access to reduce burnout
   

An Adaptable Model for Pediatric Mental Health

This first-of-its-kind facility in Utah sets a new benchmark for pediatric behavioral health environments. By aligning evidence-based design with the latest in recovery-focused care, the Wasatch Canyons campus is more than a building. It’s a beacon of hope, healing and resilience for children, families and caregivers across the region.