USA Architects was thrilled to attend the June 10th ribbon cutting for The New Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Retreat. This transformative project was initiated by Rutgers alumna Marlene Brandt, who committed $30 million to launch the Rutgers Youth Behavioral Health initiative and made possible the create of this State-of-the-Art Facility. The new center will provide New Jersey families with essential care for young people struggling with mental health in the Garden State.
According to statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, more than one in five adolescents develop a serious mental health disorder, and young adults aged 18 to 25 are particularly vulnerable. The center will deploy the most advanced practices in psychiatry and psychology, drawing from the best of evidence-based research and interdisciplinary treatment. The program will integrate the collaborative benefits of medicine, individual and group therapy, education, nutrition, physical activity, and creative arts therapy programs to provide a comprehensive and holistic experience for patients. In addition to treating young adults and adolescents, the facility will offer interdisciplinary training for the next generation of mental health clinicians.
The design of the new retreat and treatment center is founded on dignity and respect, as well as the notion that the building itself can become the first step in treatment. Each facility building greets visitors with a lobby full of wonder, balanced with serenity and mindfulness. Using trauma-informed design concepts, the building is filled with naturally lit spaces, framed views of the outdoors, and reflections of nature to embrace each individual, providing patients with feelings of comfort and fostering a sense of belonging.
The patios, a meditation walk, and outdoor therapy space allow patients and staff to take advantage of the beautiful pastoral setting adjacent to Rutgers Equine Research Facility and the nearby gardens. The design of each building, as well as the landscape, provides various opportunities for patients, staff, and visitors to engage with themselves and with others within their own comfort zones. The main design goal for the center’s aesthetic was to provide everyone with the opportunity to receive the care, education, and training required to achieve their personal goals for better mental health.
Human Services Commissioner, Sarah Adelman said, “The State’s young people are literally calling out for the type of help the Brandt Behavioral Health Treatment Center and Retreat will offer.” This facility aims to dissolve the traditional institutional stigma associated with most health facilities. USA Architects could not be prouder to have been engaged in the design and construction of this transformative project.
