VA Behavioral Health Tranquil healing environment for veterans
- Client Veterans Affairs Martinez
- Location Marinez, CA
- Size 20,000 gsf
- Completion 2016
- Program Outpatient mental health facility
- Sustainability Targeting LEED Silver
- Delivery Design-Bid-Build
- Photographer Cesar Rubio
Located on a wooded hillside of the Veterans Affairs Martinez Outpatient campus, the Martinez Behavioral Health Center offers much-needed health and well-being services to veterans. The facility addresses diverse needs with spaces for one-on-one therapy, group sessions, and activities. Its light-filled design, seamless connection to nature, and welcoming atmosphere create a therapeutic environment that reflects the service and sacrifice of veterans.
Nature and well-being at the core
The two-story “T”-shaped clinic is elegantly integrated into its natural surroundings. Positioned as a gateway to the campus, the building’s main entry aligns with a new sidewalk extending from an adjacent outpatient clinic, creating strong connections across the campus. The east-facing second floor cantilevers over the site, adding lightness to the structure, while the brick base grounds the design. A shorter wing extends toward Muir Road, nestled between clusters of oak and eucalyptus trees, creating a harmonious transition to the nearby residential community.
Visitors are greeted by a glass wall framing an oak grove, flooding the lobby with natural light and underscoring the clinic’s emphasis on the healing power of nature. A pathway encircling the grove leads to a serene healing garden, ideal for both quiet reflection and group meetings. Warm, durable finishes and VA-compliant standards ensure the interiors are both inviting and practical, supporting the clinic’s mission to provide a restorative and patient-centered environment.
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