The Riverside Franklin Adult Residential Facility transformed a former book repository into an 81-bed healing environment for Riverside County’s most vulnerable residents. Conceived to support individuals transitioning from inpatient behavioral health treatment to independent living, the facility is grounded in trauma-informed principles of safety, comfort, connection and choice.
Patient-Centered Design Delivered on a Compressed Timeline
Through design-build, the team partnered closely from day one, aligning programming, design and construction strategies to meet the demanding schedule and ultimately delivered the project a full month ahead of the already accelerated timeline without sacrificing design quality. The building’s entry was reoriented to create a secure yet welcoming first impression. Abundant natural daylight was introduced through new roof monitors and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, while biophilic features, including gardens, walking trails and landscaped community patios, blurred the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments. These spaces promote physical activity, social interaction and moments of quiet reflection, directly supporting residents’ mental and emotional well-being. A central double-height commons space became the heart of the facility, connecting programming across two levels and encouraging a sense of community. Shared kitchens, activity rooms and gathering areas were designed to cultivate life skills, social integration and personal autonomy, further easing residents’ transition toward independent living.
Progressive Design-Build was instrumental in overcoming the challenges of adaptive reuse, from structural retrofits to complex MEP upgrades, while maintaining the project’s vision. The team leveraged phased permitting, pull planning and early procurement to compress the schedule and navigate supply chain constraints. Continuous collaboration allowed design refinements to occur in tandem with construction, streamlining decision-making and avoiding costly delays.
Beyond meeting its operational goals, the project made a lasting economic impact by exceeding Swinerton’s small, local and diverse business participation target. Nearly a quarter of project spending, 23%, went to women-, minority-, veteran- and disadvantaged-owned enterprises, reinforcing Riverside County’s commitment to inclusive economic growth.
Delivered faster than anticipated and built to advance recovery, dignity and community connection, this facility stands as a model for patient-centered behavioral health care and a blueprint for how collaborative delivery can achieve both social and schedule-driven success.
Design-Build Team
| Client/Owner: | County of Riverside |
| General Contractor: | Swinerton |
| Architect: | Gensler |
| Engineers: | Miyamoto; KPFF |
| Subcontractors: | KPFF; CDPC; Omnigiving; ACCO Engineered Systems; Design West Engineering |
| Project Cost: | $33,000,000 |
| Construction Duration: | 11 Months |
Photos
Photo Credit: Swinerton