40 Bed Secure Forensic Unit at West Central Georgia Regional Hospital

Owner

Construction Delivery Method

Services Provided

McCall Architecture worked with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to design a 40-bed forensic psychiatric unit for West Central Georgia Regional Hospital in Columbus, Georgia.  The single story, freestanding building, is 18,600 square feet in size with a sloped metal roof that provides clerestory lighting into both dayrooms.  The structure is a combination of load bearing masonry and structural steel.  Finishes are typical of institutional healthcare space:  impact resistant gypsum board walls and ceilings, carpet, vinyl and resinous floors.  Typical of this type of institutional occupancy, the building has a door locking control system and a CCTV system throughout as well as the required fixtures and features to prevent ligature hazards.  The building includes fenced outdoor recreational areas, a fenced vehicular sally port and a rear parking and service area.  As requested by the owner, we provided an interior environment that is more residential in character instead of a typical institutional building.  Compared to all other units operated by DBHDD, this one provides the most natural light, thereby promoting recovery and wellness throughout.