Safety and dignity together
Secure settings for children and youth, such as treatment, custody or protective facilities, must protect residents and staff while supporting care and recovery. Hard, institutional spaces can work against that goal.
Good design uses natural light, calm colours, durable but warmer materials, clear sightlines and quiet rooms. We work with owners, clinicians and designers to build those intentions into the details.
Safe materials and fixtures
Rooms need tamper-resistant and ligature-resistant fixtures, secure ceilings, tested door hardware and carefully selected furniture. Our interior systems crew builds the walls and ceilings, our carpenters and millwork team build custom elements, and our doors and hardware crew installs doors and locks.
Our mechanical crew installs HVAC and plumbing using fixtures suited to the program. Our electrical crew, led by a Master Electrician, installs lighting, emergency power and controls.
Systems that support staff
Staff need to see, hear and respond quickly. Our low voltage team installs alarms, cameras, intercoms, door control and nurse-call or staff-alert systems, coordinated with the owner's operating procedures. Systems are tested thoroughly before the building opens.
Work in an operating facility involves resident safety and privacy. We phase construction, control access, schedule noisy work carefully and keep a consistent crew. Our Director of Health and Safety, Ghilda Gaber, leads site safety planning.
Program requirements, licensing and standards come from the owner and regulators, and we confirm them early.
Plan for these items
Owners often consider:
- Program model and resident groupings
- Outdoor spaces and supervision
- Family visiting and program rooms
- Sensory and calming spaces
- Staff offices and observation areas
Getting started
Talk to us early about the program and the residents the building will serve. A conversation about design intent, safety and daily routines helps us propose a build that fits.
Questions we hear
Do you work with clinicians and program staff?
We work with the owner's team and designers so the finished building supports the program, not just the security requirements.