Pankow is the Design-Builder for the 30,000 SF Los Angeles General Medical Center Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic and Residential Withdrawal Management Facility, located within the County’s Restorative Care Village campus in Boyle Heights. The two-story facility will provide crisis stabilization services alongside residential withdrawal management programs, creating one of the largest urgent mental health care centers in Los Angeles County.

The first floor houses the Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic, which includes 32 adult and eight adolescent treatment chairs and supports short-term stabilization stays of up to 24 hours. The second floor provides a 32-bed residential withdrawal management program, including dormitory accommodations, recreation areas, and shared wellness spaces.

Designed with safety and dignity in mind, the facility incorporates anti-ligature fixtures, secure glazing, and impact-resistant materials alongside daylight-filled interiors and outdoor spaces that encourage healing and recovery. The project exemplifies how thoughtful design and integrated delivery can create environments that support both compassionate care and operational efficiency.

Humanizing Behavioral Healthcare

Mental health facilities are often associated with clinical environments designed primarily for security and efficiency. The Los Angeles General Medical Center Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic and Residential Withdrawal Management Facility challenges that paradigm by placing dignity, wellness, and healing at the center of its design.

Located within Los Angeles County’s Restorative Care Village in Boyle Heights, the new two-story facility will deliver urgent mental health services alongside residential withdrawal management programs, expanding the County’s behavioral health infrastructure during a time of increasing need. The project consolidates services that were previously provided in a leased facility across the street, allowing the County to establish a permanent, purpose-built center for crisis care.

The design prioritizes human-centered healing environments. Abundant natural light, access to outdoor spaces, and clear circulation pathways help reduce anxiety and promote recovery. The facility avoids traditional institutional aesthetics, instead creating residential-scaled spaces that foster comfort and stability. Anti-ligature fixtures, impact-resistant glazing, and tamper-resistant hardware are integrated discreetly to maintain safety without compromising the welcoming atmosphere.

Operationally, the building balances two distinct programmatic needs: a Mental Health Urgent Care Center providing short-term crisis stabilization and a Residential Withdrawal Management Facility offering dormitory-style accommodations and recovery programs. This integrated approach strengthens Los Angeles County’s continuum of care while delivering compassionate support for individuals experiencing some of life’s most difficult moments.