Perkins Eastman prepared the scoping documents for Los Angeles County’s new High Desert Mental Health Urgent Care Center (MHUCC). This facility provides round-the-clock mental health services for individuals 13 and older, marking a first-of-its-kind facility for the area. The MHUCC was designed to address critical mental health needs locally, offering immediate support and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations that previously strained emergency rooms.

The design prioritizes safety, comfort, and dignity, featuring observation rooms, patient spaces, and staff areas carefully crafted to foster a supportive environment. Outdoor seating areas with shaded landscaping offer healing spaces, while a low wall provides privacy from neighboring areas, creating a secure, welcoming atmosphere.

Blending into the local landscape, the building’s warm earth tones and natural surroundings create a biophilic environment that connects indoor and outdoor spaces, bringing in natural light and promoting a calming, healing experience. This design was informed by Perkins Eastman’s commitment to efficient, flexible layouts, responsive to evolving care models and supportive of both staff and client needs.

Public and clinical zones are strategically separated to balance operational needs with privacy. Public areas include a welcoming reception and client zones are equipped with quiet rooms, therapy spaces, and support areas, each designed to prioritize client safety and comfort. Support functions are centralized to minimize staff travel, enhancing efficiency.

For Lancaster, the MHUCC is more than a facility—it’s a lifeline, offering hope to a community that previously had limited resources. After eight years of planning, the center now stands as a vital support system, strengthening the community and improving quality of life for individuals and families facing mental health crises.