Metrocare Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center at Hillside
Designing Resilient, Sustainable Spaces that are Trauma-Informed
Metrocare Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center at Hillside (Hillside Campus Redevelopment) is a large infrastructure project shifting toward modernizing behavioral health delivery through a specialized innovation center model. The innovation center serves as the headquarters for Metrocare Services and holds the position of the largest provider of mental health and developmental disability services in North Texas.
Metrocare chose Mecho to support this trauma informed environment with the commitment to creating a space that is sustainable, efficient and supports occupant comfort, safety, and control.
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Location
Dallas, Texas -
Architect
Kirksey | th+aDealer
Prestige Distribution -
Sustainability
LEED Gold Certification and LEED Platinum Certification
Metrocare Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center
Project Goals
Reflecting patient-oriented goals, Metrocare aimed to replace aging fragmented structures with a centralized state-of-the-art facility designed specifically for advanced "trauma-informed" care.
This project had three key goals in mind:
- Centralized Care: Consolidating services for adults, children, and veterans into a single 13-acre campus, reducing the "service-to-service" navigation hurdles.
- The Innovation Center: A dedicated space for piloting new clinical treatments and integrating emerging technologies into mental health services.
- Clinical Training Hub: A workforce development center designed to train future mental health professionals and address the region’s behavioral health staffing shortages.
- Healing Architecture: Create a space that highlights the use of natural light, green spaces, and open layouts to reduce the stigma and anxiety often associated with institutional clinical settings.
Metrocare Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center
Project Solutions
The design approach focused on building spaces that are resilient, environmentally responsible, and grounded in trauma-informed principles. The vision for the facility was rooted in a holistic approach to wellness.
Metrocare opted to integrate Mecho motorized roller shades to fulfill this mission. Crum notes that while the shades provide technical performance, their true value lies in the human experience:
The Electroshade motorized shades were outfitted with durable EcoSheer shade cloth that is designed for routine cleaning, aligning with healthcare expectations.
Metrocare Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center
Project Results
Through the combination of Mecho roller shades and innovative design, the award-winning redevelopment of the Metrocare Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center has measurable improvements in building performance, user experience, and alignment with trauma-informed design principles. By integrating sustainable systems, healing centered architectural strategies, and user-controlled daylighting solutions, the project created an environment that supports both clinical excellence and emotional well-being.
The implementation of Mecho motorized shades improved daylight management throughout the facility, reducing glare and solar heat gain to support more stable indoor temperatures. These results demonstrate how thoughtful integration of sustainable building systems can elevate both environmental performance and human experience, setting a new standard for modern behavioral health infrastructure in Dallas.