Common spaces in healthcare facilities have undergone a major transformation, driven by a desire to establish a more welcoming experience for patients. In behavioral health and addiction treatment centers, the effort to create a healing and aesthetically pleasing environment also must maintain a focus on safety.
Open concept community spaces can serve multiple functions — enhancing the therapeutic process, ensuring consistent monitoring of patients, and promoting patient interaction. These spaces should be designed to limit the potential for crowding, which can trigger stress reactions in patients. Safety glass partitions can offer separation without blocking natural light, a key feature of healing environments. Community spaces also should always be designed with ease of patient navigation in mind.

Soothing colors, soft artwork and natural textures all have a calming influence on individuals who have faced major disruption in their lives. Spaces with open access to the outdoors also have become an important feature in many behavioral health facilities. These components of inviting spaces can reduce the risk of patient incidents fueled by anxiety.