Project Strategy

This Behavioral Mental Health Facility installation was intricate and demanded an approach where safety and healing design were paramount. Partnering with the architecture and design team and General Contractor, the collaborative mission was to execute a seamless, non-institutional environment using specialized wall systems that meet rigorous security and sanitation standards.

The integration of nature prints onto a softer wall panel design, specifically a subtle Altro White Rock finish, was crucial to the facility’s therapeutic goals. Unlike harsh, purely clinical surfaces, this aesthetic choice reduces patient anxiety by utilizing flora and fauna designs. This was critical to the design firm’s vision of transforming an institutional setting into a sanctuary-like, healing space.

The primary benefit provided to the client is an environment that ensures patient safety while drastically simplifying disease and injury control and maintenance. The uniqueness of this project lies in the extreme technical constraints of a mental health facility. Every detail had to be pick-proof and ligature-resistant, from the coving transitions to the sealant itself. This necessitated specialized materials: DynaFlex SC Security Sealant and high-cost wet-area adhesives for tamper-proof adhesion, a product four times the cost of standard adhesives.

The team’s installation expertise was tested by these rigorous specifications and a non-traditional construction sequence. Navigating the complexities of specialized wet-area adhesives required an entirely different installation protocol compared to standard commercial projects. A primary challenge involved the necessity for precise layout measurements before the installation of floors or sheetrock. This proactive approach was required to manage the manufacturing lead time for custom Altro panels and ensure they were delivered and installed on schedule. Because the project followed a strict construction timeline tied to the critical date for accepting new patients, there was absolutely no margin for error. We ensured a perfect fit that accounted for necessary flooring allowances while simultaneously minimizing seams to eliminate potential failure points.

The durable, non-porous nature of the wall system serves as the environmental component, offering superior longevity and reducing the need for harsh cleaning chemicals. This project underscores the team’s unique capability to execute high-security installations with meticulous precision, successfully translating a therapeutic vision into a safe, sustainable reality.

Our team is particularly energized by the successful navigation of the "reverse trade" installation. Measuring for custom panels before the sheetrock and floors were even in place required an elite level of coordination and confidence in our craftsmanship. This success was made possible through the incredible partnership, and continuous contact with the Altro team. Shoutout to Jared Clauberg at Altro for his incredible help on this project.

Knowing that our collective precision directly supported a strict schedule to open a facility dedicated to critical patient care gives our entire team a profound sense of purpose. This project stands as a benchmark for how specialized installation expertise and strong manufacturer collaboration can truly elevate the healing process.

Unique Installation Challenge Strategy

This project presented a unique installation challenge because it required an elite level of coordination to execute a non-traditional "reverse trade" construction sequence. Due to the manufacturers lead time for the custom Altro panels and a rigid construction schedule tied to the facility’s opening date, the team had to perform incredibly precise layout measurements before the sheetrock or floors were even installed. There was absolutely no margin for error, as every panel had to be custom-ordered to ensure a perfect fit that accounted for future flooring allowances while maintaining a pick-proof, ligature-resistant environment. Navigating these complexities required a specialized installation protocol and the use of high-cost, tamper-proof adhesives that are far more difficult to work with than standard commercial products, necessitating a mastery of both technical precision and collaborative timing.