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Construction crews have broken ground on a new 11,500-square-foot, secure (level 1) residential treatment facility in Salem.

Scott Edwards Architecture designed the facility for owner/developer Community First Solutions. The project team also includes civil engineer and landscape architect Harper Houf Peterson Righellis (HHPR), structural engineer TM Rippey Consulting Engineers, and general contractor CD Redding Construction.

The total project cost is approximately $13 million. Community First Solutions received a $13.1 million grant from the state via House Bill 5024 in 2021; that money will also pay for startup costs.

The building will be at 325 Lancaster Drive S.E. It鈥檚 the first of many such projects that Community First Solutions hopes to develop in Oregon, Scott Edwards Architecture Associate Principal Jill Arnold said. The nonprofit is seeking to create healing environments that fit into communities.

鈥淭hey are really kind of looking at this being their flagship of what these kinds of facilities can be, whereas in the past they often get put in older buildings or existing buildings,鈥� she said.

The Salem building is designed to provide a safe and therapeutic environment for people requiring secure inpatient care. The focus will be on rehabilitation and meeting 鈥渢he growing needs of (the) community while ensuring the highest standards of security and support,鈥� a press release states.

鈥淲e鈥檙e providing 16 beds for the residents, which is the allowable maximum for the state of Oregon for this type of facility,鈥� Arnold said.

The facility was designed to not have any blind corners. Residents will not be allowed to leave, Arnold said, and while they may not be a danger to others, they can be a danger to themselves, which is why the facility is secured.

The building will have residence corridors with sleeping rooms and main gathering spaces. Administrators and staffers will be in a separate secure area, Arnold said. The facility will include therapeutic spaces, outdoor recreation areas, and spaces for comprehensive support services such as counseling, medical care and vocational training. A secure yard for residents will include meandrous paths throughout the courtyard, Arnold said. Also, plans call for the installation of a basketball court.

Building materials such as impact-resistant chipboard and drywall will be extremely durable, Arnold said. Also, ligature-resistant elements will be used throughout the facility to help protect residents, she added.

鈥淲hat we really tried to achieve beyond durability (was) trying to make sure this is a comfortable place,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 want it to be read as very institutional. We wanted it to read very much like a home.鈥�

Materials鈥� colors were chosen to promote a healing environment, Arnold said. Interior colors will be a cross between Asian and Scandinavian designs, with softer, sage greens and oranges married with wood.

Some large murals made of durable materials will be placed on walls. The scope of that work is still being determined.

The project is scheduled to be completed by Aug. 1, 2025.

On the Boards is a 91视频 feature offering a look at projects in Oregon and Southwest Washington being tackled by local architecture firms. To have your firm鈥檚 projects considered, contact 91视频 reporter Hilary Dorsey at [email protected].