Franklin Residential Care Facility & Behavioral Health Clinic
Understanding what drives the need for change
When Riverside County embarked on creating the Franklin Adult Residential Facility & Behavioral Health Clinic, they faced a complex design challenge that went far beyond typical commercial furnishing. This 42,000-square-foot facility would serve as a lifeline for some of the community's most vulnerable residents—individuals transitioning from hospital discharge, those experiencing housing instability, and people seeking behavioral health recovery services. The space needed to feel welcoming and dignified while meeting the strictest safety protocols required for behavioral health environments.
The County's vision centered on creating a healing-forward environment that would serve dual purposes: providing safe residential housing for 80+ clients while offering comprehensive outpatient services including therapy, medication management, and case work. Every design decision needed to balance therapeutic comfort with behavioral health safety standards, ensuring that anti-ligature and tamper-resistant requirements didn't compromise the fundamental goal of creating spaces where recovery and new beginnings could flourish. With a diverse range of spaces—from intimate private offices to large group therapy rooms, from residential bedrooms to communal dining areas—the facility demanded furniture solutions that could maintain consistency in safety while adapting to vastly different functional needs.
How we brought the vision to life
Tangram's design partnership with Franklin began with deep collaboration with behavioral health experts, understanding that traditional commercial furniture approaches wouldn't suffice for this specialized environment. The team conducted extensive research into behavioral health-appropriate manufacturers, ultimately partnering with trusted names like Global Furniture, Norix, Moduform, and SitOnIt Seating—companies with proven track records in creating furniture that prioritizes both safety and human dignity. Every piece was carefully vetted for anti-ligature properties, tamper resistance, and cleanability while ensuring the overall aesthetic supported the facility's therapeutic mission.
The design approach required careful orchestration across diverse spaces, each with unique requirements. Reception and lounge areas received welcoming soft seating arranged to promote calm interaction, while residential bedrooms required specialized anti-ligature beds, wardrobes, and desks that maintained comfort without compromising safety. Group therapy rooms needed flexible arrangements that could accommodate both large sessions and intimate breakouts, while staff areas required ergonomic solutions that supported the demanding work of behavioral health professionals. Throughout the process, Tangram maintained close coordination with project stakeholders, ensuring that rigorous safety standards and tight timelines were met without sacrificing the overarching goal of creating spaces where healing and hope could take root.
1 professionals brought this vision to life
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