May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time dedicated to fostering understanding, reducing stigma, and promoting support for those navigating mental illness. At Studio Southwest Architects, we are proud to use our expertise to contribute to this vital cause. Our work goes beyond buildings—it’s about creating spaces that promote healing, dignity, and hope. This month, we’re honored to highlight how architectural design plays a powerful role in supporting mental health, especially through projects like the Bernalillo County CARE Campus.
Principal architects Eric Haskins, AIA, and Bob Maze, AIA believe that architecture can be a catalyst for wellness. Their work since 2017 on Bernalillo County’s CARE Campus exemplifies that belief. This comprehensive-care facility provides vital services for individuals struggling with substance abuse and mental health disorders, many of whom face systemic barriers to treatment. Eric and Bob’s design efforts focused on creating an environment that helps patients feel safe, respected, and empowered in their recovery.
Bernalillo County CARE Campus: photo by Patrick Coulie
One of the primary components of the CARE Campus is a detoxification facility tailored for patients in crisis. Thoughtful design decisions—from private intake areas to calming interior finishes—help reduce anxiety and promote dignity during difficult moments. These spaces enable healthcare providers to implement evidence-based interventions in a setting that supports both patient and staff well-being.
In addition to detox services, the campus features an outpatient facility that extends support through counseling, peer-support programs, medication management, and ongoing psychiatric evaluation. The architecture facilitates seamless movement and access between services, reinforcing the concept of continuity in care. It also reflects inclusivity by integrating specialized areas for family therapy, trauma-informed care, support for LGBTQ2+ patients, and individuals with special needs.
Bernalillo County CARE Campus: photo by Patrick Coulie
“Being a part of a project that offers comprehensive mental health and addiction services is an incredible honor,” says Eric. “We’re not just designing buildings—we’re helping our community address disparities and offer paths to recovery. It’s about designing with empathy and intention.”
The CARE Campus demonstrates how mental healthcare facilities benefit from holistic, evidence-informed architectural design. Key characteristics in these projects include natural lighting, private and communal spaces, wayfinding clarity, and secure environments. These considerations reduce stress, enhance patient outcomes, and create workplaces that support the mental health of healthcare professionals, as well.
Beyond CARE Campus, Studio Southwest has contributed to the expansion of the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute, another cornerstone in the state’s mental health infrastructure. The expansion focused on increasing capacity while ensuring patients and staff have access to supportive environments. Every design element was chosen with rehabilitation and safety in mind.
Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that healing is not just about treatment—it’s about the spaces where that treatment happens. At Studio Southwest, we are deeply committed to designing environments that uplift and empower people during some of their most vulnerable moments. By aligning architecture with the goals of healthcare providers, we can help reduce stigma, improve outcomes, and create more compassionate systems of care.
This May, we stand in solidarity with everyone working to improve their mental health, and those working to improve access to and awareness of mental healthcare. We also reaffirm our dedication to creating spaces where rehabilitation and healing occur.
