Thesis Design Monograph

Community Mental Wellness Center

Addressing the mental health epidemic through the design of a

D obr ot h

Master of Architecture Thesis Neis I U of Oregon I Spring 3013

M e ga n

Un spo ken

Me gan

Dobroth

megan.dobroth@gmail.com 2 0 8 . 2 8 4 . 8 7 9 4

Table of Contents Issue Concept Program Site Urban Plan section floor plans Elevations Facade Treatment process

ISSUE Nationally

Locally

Prevalence of Illness

Estimated # of millions of Americans affected

Oregon’s suicide rate is 35% higher than the national average

cancer 9.8 M (“Mental Healthcare Reform”)

less than 1 in 6

# of people with serious mental illness who

received minimally adequate treatment

national avg

35%

23 M

diabetes 13 M

(Wang)

vs. National Average

44 M

mental illness heart disease

Oregon Suicide Rate

(Bernstein)

Number of Calls

!

to Oregon Partnership’s Suicide Lifeline

11,303

2008

19,016

2010 (Bernstein)

Social Injustice U.S. Dept of Justice Report, 2012 14-month investigation confirmed that Portland police engage (present tense) in "a pattern or practice of unnecessary or unreasonable force during interactions with people who have or are perceived to have mental illness."

(Duin)

in Portland Police Dept’s treatment of the mentally ill May 14, 2010

Acting Sgt. Mathew Delenikos, responding to a report that an Old Town irregular was spitting on cars, pepper-sprayed Aaron Ferguson then fired his Taser four times when Ferguson refused to be handcuffed.

August 15, 2010

Officer Joshua Sparks four times fired his Taser at a naked and unarmed diabetic undergoing a medical emergency.

May 15, 2011

Officer Richard Storm punched Fausto Brambila-Naranjo seven to 10 times in the face when Brambila-Naranjo, who'd been standing in the rain for more than an hour, kicked at Storm and missed.

(Jung)

Break up the solid face block

Pull apart the dense block

Insert nature into the voids

PLACE roof gardens

t o c r e at e a va r i e d s t r e e t e d g e

to allow sunlight and program separation

b o t h p u b l i c a n d p r i vat e a c c e s s

to utilize southern exposure

CONCEPT STATEMENT How can architecture address this throbbing issue?

Through the development of a community mental health facility, the design explores the effects of the built environment on the psychological wellbeing of its users. More specifically, critical attention was given to the design community integration, user relationship with the natural environment, and the development of safe spaces as these aspects present a particular challenge in urban settings. Creating an iconic building to house this program also increases public awareness and gives a voice to an unspoken epidemic. By fighting for the mental wellness of Portland’s citizens, we are fighting for the health of the city as a greater whole.

PROGRAM EDUCATION

Community Outreach: Art Gallery Exhibition Presentations & Lectures

Extended Learning: Classes / Workshops Career Development Awareness Training

ADVOCACY

Community Focused: Addressing Public Policy Awareness campaigns Political lobbying Organization of movement

Community Focused: Art Therapy Stress Management Conflict Management Self-Healing Practices Resource Management

supportive h o u s i n g 27 Studio Units Community Kitchen Space 7 Case Management Offices

SERVICE

Clinical: Individual Therapy Crisis Management Prescription Management Pharmacy

Housing: Transitional Housing Social Workers

HOUSING

Single Room Apartments Community Rooms Admin. Office Case Worker Offices

CLINIC

Reception, Waiting Area Group Therapy Psychiatry Psychology Medication Dispensary Crisis Management, “Calm Room” Nurses Station / Staff Room

COMMUNITY

Yoga, Self-Healing Strategies Art Therapy Lectures, Presentations, events Exhibit, Art Gallery Classrooms Action Center, Advocacy Offices

PEARL

OLD TOWN

DOWNTOWN

SITE

PORTLAND

Burnside

Burnside

Burnside

y ad

Mo

rri

son

Morr iso Bridg n e

Vehicular Traffic

Ald

Mo

rri

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ton

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Bike Lanes

Ald

Mo

rri

3rd

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shi

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MAX Lines

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Wa

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site analysis

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SW STARK & SW 4th

C O N T E X T

Street Life

Historic Facades

Local Businesses

food ca r t po c k et pa r k

urban plan

Community Green Space MAX line Planned intervention Proposed Densification Contribution to Urban Fabric

Low-Income Housing

Mixed-use development

ViewS to nature

p r o g r a m connections

resp

ond

w vie

C o n t e x t response

to n e

igh

bor

’s w

ind

ows

section

Meeting Rm Parking Entry

Housing Office

Housing Commons

Event Room

Cliniction p Rece

Cafe

Waiting Rm Healing Art Gallery

Main Entry

1 Floor Plan

3

2 Art Studio

5

4

6

Healing Gardens

West

East

Elevations

South

SUStainability

Green

Roof

S h a d i n g d e v i c e s

T h e r m a l C h i m n e y

Facade treatment Terracotta Panels

F r o s t e d Polycarbonate screen

Wooden Columns

Planter

Benches

wall section

P ROCE SS WORK

precedents Chicap Poetry Foundation

De Young Art Museum

Noain City Hall

exploration of form:

process models

exploration of form:

3 prelimina ry c o nc epts

1 I View Corridors

2 I wrapping

3 I shift

exploration of form:

3 p r e l i mi na r y co n cep t s

1 I View Corridors

2 I wrapping

3 I shift

revised design: p r oc es s c on cep t m od el

revised design: process concept & section

Megan

D obr oth

megan.dobroth@gmail.com 2 0 8 . 2 8 4 . 8 7 9 4