Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: Pinnacle Architecture, Inc.
Oregon counties are facing unprecedented behavioral health challenges. Demand for crisis response services continues to grow, while emergency departments, law enforcement agencies, and behavioral health providers are asked to do more with limited resources. As counties invest in crisis stabilization infrastructure, the focus is no longer simply on creating additional capacity, it is about creating environments that improve outcomes for individuals, staff, and the broader community.
Crisis Stabilization Centers represent one of the most important opportunities to strengthen the behavioral health continuum of care. These facilities provide immediate intervention for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, helping divert people from jails and emergency rooms while connecting them to appropriate services. When thoughtfully designed, they become a critical community asset that supports recovery, improves operational efficiency, and maximizes public investment.
Deschutes County Stabilization Center
We have seen firsthand how design can support these goals. The Deschutes County Stabilization Center, Central Oregon’s first mental health stabilization center, was developed to provide an alternative response for those experiencing behavioral health crises. The project reflects an emerging statewide priority: creating facilities specifically designed for stabilization rather than relying on systems that were never intended to address behavioral health needs.
Successful stabilization centers begin with the patient experience. Individuals often arrive in distress, making the physical environment a powerful tool in de-escalation and recovery. Access to natural light, intuitive wayfinding, calming materials, and comfortable gathering spaces help create a setting that feels welcoming rather than institutional. Research and experience consistently show that environment matters in behavioral healthcare
The recently completed Klamath Basin Behavioral Health Campus exemplifies how counties can leverage thoughtful design to expand access to care while improving community outcomes. Working alongside Klamath Basin Behavioral Health, Pinnacle helped create a walkable behavioral health campus that includes a new residential treatment center and the region’s first Crisis Stabilization Center. The project will double the number of residential treatment beds available in Klamath County while providing a local resource for individuals in crisis, helping reduce the burden on hospitals and jails.
Just as importantly, the design demonstrates how the built environment can support healing. Walking paths, outdoor gathering areas, a community garden, abundant natural daylight, and acoustical treatments create spaces that promote comfort, recovery, and resilience. Warm materials, clear wayfinding, and connections to nature help foster a sense of dignity and safety for both patients and staff.
For counties, operational effectiveness is equally important. Facilities must support clinical workflows, staff visibility, and future flexibility while meeting strict budget requirements. The Klamath Basin campus was planned with future growth in mind, allowing the organization to expand services as community needs evolve. Thoughtful planning today can help counties avoid costly renovations tomorrow while ensuring facilities remain adaptable to changing service models, funding opportunities, and regulatory requirements.
As Oregon continues to invest in behavioral health infrastructure, the most successful projects will be those that view design as a strategic tool rather than a construction requirement. Stabilization and crisis centers are an opportunity to reduce pressure on emergency systems, support behavioral health providers, and create dignified pathways to recovery for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents.
When counties invest in facilities designed around safety, healing, and operational excellence, they are doing more than constructing buildings, they are building the foundation for stronger, healthier communities.
About the Author
Briana Manfrass is President of Pinnacle Architecture and specializes in healthcare, housing, and civic facility planning and design. An Evidence-Based Design (EBD) Certified professional, she brings more than 20 years of experience helping public agencies translate community needs into thoughtful, practical, and sustainable solutions. Briana is passionate about working alongside local leaders to solve complex challenges, build consensus, and create facilities that serve communities for generations.
To discuss facility planning or a future crisis center contact Briana at Briana@parch.biz or 541.388.9897 ext. 22.