A Bridge Between Corrections and Community

The Virginia Center for Behavioral Rehabilitation (VCBR) treats sexually violent persons, requiring an environment that supports safety and personal growth. The environment must balance therapeutic programming, daily living and safety, creating a place where treatment and supervision work in tandem. Within this context, the existing facility presents several architectural challenges: limited program and activity areas, narrow circulation routes and constrained opportunities for staff visibility and resident engagement. These conditions shape the need for a more supportive, purpose‑built environment that strengthens treatment outcomes and fosters the development of essential life skills.

A New Model for Therapeutic Residential Design

Our team was selected to design a major expansion that reimagines how the campus supports treatment, autonomy and progression. The design introduces a multitiered residential model that allows individuals to take on increasing levels of responsibility as they advance through the program. The goal is to create an environment that reinforces therapeutic goals while offering dignity, structure and opportunities for growth.

The first phase of the expansion provides residential capacity for 182 individuals across 119 rooms, with shell space included for future development. Living units are organized to reflect the physical, behavioral and therapeutic needs of distinct resident groups, ensuring appropriate proximity, supervision and access to services.

Key features include:

• Improved and appropriate break-out and circulation space for residents and staff in a newly conceived, state-of-the-art Treatment Mall
• Space planning of living units based on the physical and behavioral complexities and vulnerabilities of particular groups — appropriate degrees of proximity and access
• New apartment-like transitional residential units should facilitate augmented programming and development of daily living skills for successful transition to the community
• A distinct, residential-style building that includes amenities such as laundry and kitchens for practice of daily living skills
• Communal areas to encourage social interaction and support

The VCBR expansion reflects evidence‑based design principles and remains adaptable to future programmatic needs. The result is a forward‑looking environment that supports treatment, safety, and the long‑term goal of successful community reintegration.