Mathile Center for Mental Health and Wellness

The building’s exterior fronts State Route 4, a major Ohio corridor, providing strong visibility for both the local community and daily commuters. Along the private inpatient rooms on the second and third levels, a Dayton Children’s–specific blue faceted metal wall introduces texture and dimensionality. Crisp angular planes catch light and shadow throughout the day, giving the elevation a dynamic, sculpted presence while visually linking the building to the main patient tower.

At the primary public entrance, the corner lobby is defined by a fully glazed double-height volume of clear glass, drawing natural light deep into the lobby and adjacent waiting areas.

A defining feature of the design is the courtyard-centric patient unit layout, where every inpatient room borders an outdoor courtyard and play area. Patient milieu and activity areas are also positioned along the courtyard, extending views and access to the outdoors throughout much of the building. Patient-accessible corridors form a continuous walking loop around the courtyard, intentionally eliminating dead ends within patient areas.

To create the best possible patient flow for inpatient, outpatient and crisis services, Dayton turned to Blue Cottage of CannonDesign for help beyond the build environment. The work of Blue Cottage’s behavioral health consultants on the operational and clinical flow of the building as well as an overall behavioral health master plan allowed for specialized program development such as the crisis unit, smoother continuity of care and operational efficiency through staff who are cross-trained for multiple units within the Mathile building. The consultant team worked closely with the design team to realize these goals at the start of design and throughout the full process, particularly with the hallway design and layout of the various units. 

The interior design done by Champlin | EOP, is cohesive with the bright murals and sculptures found across the Dayton Children’s campus, particularly in the main hospital and specialty building. Colored patterns and waves on the floor act as wayfinding elements and create a guided walking path in patient areas.

Expanding mental health crisis services was another key project priority, even with an existing crisis center built adjacent to the emergency department in 2018. Pediatric mental health crises were rising locally and adding burden to the emergency department. The new crisis stabilization suite contains 12 private assessment rooms, quiet rooms and a seclusion space. It can provide minor medical care, and has a separate entrance and garage drop off for walk-in patients and ambulance arrivals. 

While previously day hospital services were a few miles away from the main campus, they are now adjacent to the crisis suite and can provide more intensive outpatient mental health services. There is discreet access from the crisis stabilization suite to the inpatient unit for ease of patient transfer for those needing admission. 

The design and planning goals were tested and realized through the transition and activation process, done by Yellow Brick Consulting. A key focus of the move was realizing the integration of inpatient, outpatient, and crisis services within a single facility, enabling a seamless continuum of care designed to not only provide more resources, but improve the patient and family experience. Transition services are especially important for helping staff to understand design intent as well as ensure things like safety features, sightlines and wayfinding are clear for all.

With all major mental health services under one roof, Dayton Children’s can provide not only more care for more patients, but ensure no child falls through the gaps on the care spectrum.