flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

In Flint, Mich., a new health center brings together children’s mental and physical health services

Healthcare Facilities

In Flint, Mich., a new health center brings together children’s mental and physical health services

The Center for Children’s Integrated Services features a playground area designed for children with autism, one of the leading outcomes from the Flint water crisis.


By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor | December 14, 2022
In Flint, Mich., a new health center brings together children’s mental and physical health services
The Center for Children’s Integrated Services features a series of “autism pods” and an autism playground area. Autism has been one of the leading outcomes seen from the Flint water crisis. All photos courtesy HED

Families with children who experience behavioral health issues often have to travel to multiple care facilities to see multiple teams of specialists. In Flint, Mich., the new Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genesee Health System (GHS), a public mental health provider, brings together all of the GHS children’s programs, including its behavioral health programs, under one roof. It provides families a single destination for their children’s mental healthcare.

The facility aims to integrate and improve behavioral health care and primary care for underserved families. Designed by HED, the 60,000-sf facility unifies the three core children’s behavioral health programs—the Neurological Center for Excellence, Child and Family Services, and the Children’s Autism Center—as well as community outreach and a federally qualified health care center.

The Center for Children’s Integrated Services features a series of “autism pods” and an autism playground area. As a therapeutic tool, the playground allows children with autism to engage with nature through sensory-rich features. Autism has been one of the leading outcomes seen from the Flint water crisis, according to GHS.

Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genessee Health System Flint Michigan HED

HED designed the building’s layout to improve navigation and efficiency for patients, families, and medical staff, while also enhancing visibility and accessibility. The facility offers a secure drop-off area, a secure playground, a café, an outdoor plaza, and comfortable waiting areas.

In addition, the Center for Children’s Integrated Services will help develop medical innovation in the evaluation and treatment of lead poisoning. This work will inform best practices for treatment around the world.

The facility is located along a main bus line in Flint, improving transportation access to health services for low- and moderate-income families.

On the Building Team:
Owner: Greater Flint Children’s Mental Health Facilities, Inc.
Design architect and architect of record: HED
MEP engineer and structural engineer: HED
General contractor/construction manager: DW Lurvey Construction

Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genessee Health System Flint Michigan 6

Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genessee Health System Flint Michigan 2

Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genessee Health System Flint Michigan 1

Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genessee Health System Flint Michigan 4

Center for Children’s Integrated Services at Genessee Health System Flint Michigan 3

 

Related Stories

Sports and Recreational Facilities | Mar 14, 2024

First-of-its-kind sports and rehabilitation clinic combines training gym and healing spa

Parker Performance Institute in Frisco, Texas, is billed as a first-of-its-kind sports and rehabilitation clinic where students, specialized clinicians, and chiropractic professionals apply neuroscience to physical rehabilitation. 

Healthcare Facilities | Mar 7, 2024

A healthcare facility in New Jersey will be located at a transit station

The project is part of a larger objective to make transportation hubs more multipurpose.

University Buildings | Feb 21, 2024

University design to help meet the demand for health professionals

Virginia Commonwealth University is a Page client, and the Dean of the College of Health Professions took time to talk about a pressing healthcare industry need that schools—and architects—can help address.

Hospital Design Trends | Feb 14, 2024

Plans for a massive research hospital in Dallas anticipates need for child healthcare

Children’s Health and the UT Southwestern Medical Center have unveiled their plans for a new $5 billion pediatric health campus and research hospital on more than 33 acres within Dallas’ Southwestern Medical District. 

Healthcare Facilities | Feb 6, 2024

New surgical tower enhances healthcare services of a Long Island, N.Y., hospital

The eight-story Petrocelli Surgical Pavilion includes 132 intensive care rooms.

Standards | Feb 1, 2024

Prioritizing water quality with the WELL Building Standard

In this edition of Building WELLness, DC WELL Accredited Professionals Hannah Arthur and Alex Kircher highlight an important item of the WELL Building Standard: water.

Industry Research | Jan 23, 2024

Leading economists forecast 4% growth in construction spending for nonresidential buildings in 2024

Spending on nonresidential buildings will see a modest 4% increase in 2024, after increasing by more than 20% last year according to The American Institute of Architects’ latest Consensus Construction Forecast. The pace will slow to just over 1% growth in 2025, a marked difference from the strong performance in 2023.

Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024

Top 70 Medical Office Building Construction Firms for 2023

PCL Construction Enterprises, Swinerton, Skanska USA, Clark Group, and Hensel Phelps top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest medical office building general contractors and construction management (CM) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.

Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024

Top 50 Medical Office Building Engineering Firms for 2023

Jacobs, Salas O'Brien, KPFF Consulting Engineers, IMEG, and Kimley-Horn head BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest medical office building engineering and engineering/architecture (EA) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.  

Giants 400 | Jan 23, 2024

Top 110 Medical Office Building Architecture Firms for 2023

SmithGroup, CannonDesign, E4H Environments for Health Architecture, and Perkins Eastman top BD+C's ranking of the nation's largest medical office building architecture and architecture engineering (AE) firms for 2023, as reported in the 2023 Giants 400 Report.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category


Healthcare Facilities

Advancing Healthcare: Medical Office Buildings at the Forefront of Access and Safety

This article explores the pivotal shift from traditional hospital settings to Medical Office Buildings (MOBs), focusing on how these facilities enhance patient access. Discover the key drivers of this transformation, including technological advancements, demographic trends, and a growing emphasis on integrated, patient-centered care. Learn how MOBs are not only adapting to modern healthcare demands but are also leveraging modern access control and safety innovations.



halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021