Metrocare, the largest community mental health provider in North Texas, has unveiled a new $96 million Mental Health and Disability Innovation Center in Southern Dallas’ Canyon Bluff neighborhood. The campus is expected to serve roughly 50,000 children and adults each year across Dallas County. The new campus, designed by Kirksey Architecture, includes care for children with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs, specialty treatment for complex trauma, an on-site pharmacy, and community-based clinicians who travel to schools, churches, and homes providing treatment. The three new structures are all pursuing LEED certification, with the 45,300 SQFT clinic and 258,700 SQFT Client Services building aiming for LEED® Silver. The 1,000 SF Conference Building is aiming for LEED Gold. Key regenerative design features include electric car charging stations, daylighting, views to the outdoors, water conserving plumbing fixtures, and energy efficient glazing. Kirksey also conducted listening sessions throughout design development, emphasizing function and durability as key tenants of the design intent. The result is a campus that feels lightweight and lively but prepared to provide enduring care services. Represented by ALA Dallas, Sabin provided two unique vignettes to outfit the Client Services and Clinic buildings. Unlit CYLINDER fixtures create a feature moment above the Client Services reception desk located in the entrance lobby. This type of reception desk, common in hospitality design, communicates intentionality and personality. Applied in a Mercury, Gulf, Moss, and Sand gradient, the composition looks as much like an art piece as acoustic absorption. These specific colors were selected to create visual continuity from the exterior’s vibrant wall graphic that wraps the exterior into the lobby. Applied to the wall behind the reception desk, PLANE provides further acoustic absorption. This PLANE is in Mid Flute, a surface style with ridges that create a slatted effect, appearing similar to linear wood ceiling. The blue and green tones of the cylinder baffles and the wood inspired wall panels are biophilic, bringing nature in, a concept that supports a trauma informed environment. The LAYER composition in the Clinic building is a prominent feature at the “racetrack” corridor which is used for motorskill therapy activities. The variety of shapes and vibrant colors not only add lighting and acoustic absorption to the active space but support the goal to create an interior parklike environment for children to ride their scooters and tricycles. The shapes subtly create a canopy overhead of trees, clouds and sky. The specific colors used were coordinated with the custom wall graphic to visually connect the elements within the space. Our Linear light engines and signature sewn construction give the fixtures a tailored, design-forward appeal. Using both the Disc and Obround shapes of LAYER showcases how the LAYER series’ intended application. 2025 Lighting Representative: Architectural Lighting Alliance Specifier: Kirksey Photographer: Charles Davis Photography

Architect: RDC & PDO Agent: Arizona Lighting Sales Photographer: Cameron Bunch

Architect: Tecton Architects Photographer: Red Skies Photography/www.redskiesphotography.com

A New Language of Light: Reimagining Architectural Integration and Performance