The opening of the Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center marked a major milestone for mental health care in Utah. Located in South Salt Lake, the new facility officially opened in March 2025 as the state’s first comprehensive crisis care center, creating a dedicated place for adults experiencing mental health or substance use emergencies to receive immediate, specialized support outside of a traditional emergency room setting. The project reflects years of planning and investment aimed at building a more compassionate, effective response to crisis care in the Salt Lake City region.
A Facility Designed Around a “No Wrong Door” Approach
What makes the Gardner Crisis Care Center stand out is its commitment to a “no wrong door” model of care. Huntsman Mental Health Institute designed the center to remove barriers that often prevent people from getting help during a crisis. The facility offers 24/7 walk-in crisis care, short-term stabilization, inpatient acute care, outpatient treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and case management, all in one location. University of Utah Health said the center is projected to serve more than 9,600 unique patients annually through its first-floor crisis support services alone.
Built to Support Healing With Dignity
The building itself was carefully designed to create a more welcoming and humane treatment environment. According to FFKR Architects, the three-story center blends necessary safety measures with elevated design, using hospitality-inspired elements, natural light, and welcoming public spaces to help patients feel respected and supported. Features include a transparent lobby, a large entry canopy, an integrated observation unit, outpatient and bridging services, and a 24-bed acute stabilization unit. Rather than feeling cold or institutional, the center was intentionally planned to promote dignity, comfort, and recovery.
Construction and Design Collaboration
The Gardner Crisis Care Center was delivered through a collaboration between Okland Construction and FFKR Architects, whose work helped turn an important healthcare vision into a purpose-built facility for crisis response. The project required more than standard healthcare construction. It called for spaces that could support urgent behavioral health services while also creating an environment that feels calm, welcoming, and respectful for patients and families. By combining practical construction execution with a design approach centered on dignity and healing, the team created a facility that supports both immediate care needs and long-term community impact.
A Project With Lasting Community Impact
The Gardner Crisis Care Center reflects a broader commitment to improving access to mental health care, reducing stigma, and creating a more appropriate setting for crisis intervention in Utah. By bringing together crisis care, stabilization, outpatient support, and community services under one roof, the project sets a new standard for addressing mental health emergencies with urgency, respect, and long-term support.
At Construction Protection Systems, we’re proud to have played a small part in the development of the Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center by protecting its many new doors from construction damage. Stay tuned for more updates from the makers of 1-2-3 Door Shield, the original, reusable door protection system.