MHAAO Recovery Campus
The new headquarters for the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO), the Recovery Campus was designed with intention, offering safety and support to those experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.
Project Details
Location
Portland, OR
Client
Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO)
Year Completed
2024
Project Size
10,105 sq. ft.
Land Recognition
We have a responsibility to not only acknowledge but also elevate Native communities and their needs. This project sits in the area currently known as Portland, which encompasses the traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River.
Educating ourselves is an important action. We encourage you to explore the stories of these communities through Native-led resources like David G. Lewis, PhD’s The Quartux Journal and Leading with Tradition.
Supporting Recovery
The Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) is a community based nonprofit organization that supports the recovery goals of individuals, including entering treatment, securing housing, or finding employment. The project is a renovation to an existing medical office building that now serves as the MHAAO Headquarters & Recovery Campus. Located in Portland’s Lents neighborhood, the project will provide valuable resources to the historically underserved community.
A Welcoming Entrance
The lobby serves as a point of convergence for staff, peers, and community members. The reception desk anchors the space, directing flow to the recovery center and the office headquarters.
Spaces for Healing
MHAAO provides peer services, training, and technical assistance to users at the Recovery Campus. Designed through a trauma-informed lens, the day center, triage room, wellness room, peer support space, and additional flexible spaces meet the organization’s evolving needs. Situated under double-height windows, the walk-in lounge acts as a transition zone into more intimate interior spaces. The office also features a wellness room designed by KultureCity, a nonprofit dedicated to creating accessible sensory spaces.
Trauma-Informed Design Elements
Local materials like Douglas Fir and cedar tones were used as grounding elements to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, deviating from the typical clinical feel often found in support service spaces. Layered spaces, multiple access points, and acoustical treatments and surfaces contribute to an inclusive environment.
The Recovery Campus will have a huge impact on both the lives of people and the livelihood of this community.— Janie Gullickson, MHAAO Executive Director
