This new construction behavioral health facility nestled in the beautiful mountainscape of North Carolina provides its residents with care and comfort.

This project consisted of a new residential behavioral treatment facility for the Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority (CIHA). The project’s location is set in the remote mountains of Western North Carolina. It was important to CIHA to have the facility located in a secluded natural setting to help alleviate some of the stressors that are often associated with the recovery process.

One of the main components of this project was the design of the semi-private rooms centered around the common area. In order to increase the level of privacy in the shared rooms the space was designed in the shape of a hexagram, or six-pointed star. Each bed within the room has its own window and a shared bathroom that further helps separate the space.

During the review process, it was discovered that the seven-point star is very sacred symbol within Cherokee culture. With this in mind the patio was designed to be the seventh point in the star. The symbolic number 7 was further incorporated into the design of the project. Some of these features include, the main windows of the lodge have 7 panes of glass, 7 clouds painted on the ceiling, the number of book shelves in the lobby, etc.

The project was also designed with expansion in mind. The project includes the lodge building and two sleeping cottages, one for male members and one for female members. Space has been left on the site for two additional sleeping cottages, and the lodge has been designed large enough that break out spaces for programs and dining is easy to accommodate.
Another component of the project that required a unique solution was the remoteness of the location. The project is the only building located on 106 acres of land. The remoteness of the area required adjustment to the construction schedule, and because of the limited land parts of the lodge building cantilever off the mountain side.