Generose Building Psychiatric Emergency Services/EmPATH

Mayo Clinic

BWBR partnered with Mayo Clinic to design a new unit utilizing the EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing) model of care, designed to guide people safely through a mental health crisis in the appropriate therapeutic setting. The model uses an open concept design with supporting rooms adjacent to the main patient care space. Open nursing stations encourage trust with staff, while human-centered design elements like access to daylight, nature-inspired imagery, and comfortable seating options create a warm and welcoming environment.

The unit accommodates 16 adult patients and 12 pediatric patients in a separate area. Each environment includes lounges for relaxation, quiet rooms for respite and stabilization, and consultation rooms for staff to meet with patients. By collocating the two patient populations on one floor, workflows are enhanced and areas like the staff team room, breakroom, offices, and storage are shared and easily accessible.

Project partners: Dunham Associates, Meyer Borgman Johnson