Officials tout ‘new chapter’ for forensic unit
The April 6 news that the Pennsylvania departments of Human Services and General Services sought design professionals to develop plans for a new building to house the Norristown State Hospital’s forensic services unit was met with excitement for a new chapter.
The forensic unit provides care to individuals involved with county judicial or corrections systems who need psychiatric evaluation or ongoing treatment. The new facility will replace two buildings that currently house this unit.
“Pennsylvanians served through Norristown’s forensic unit deserve timely, quality care in a compassionate, recovery-focused environment,” said DHS Acting Secretary Meg Snead. “Developing a new, modern building that draws upon best practices will be a benefit to the individuals we serve, those we employ and the surrounding community. We are excited to work with our local and state partners to create a safe, trauma-informed, recovery-centered facility.”
A release from DHS stated that dating back to 2017, DHS had worked closely with the Norristown community and municipal officials surrounding the hospital’s campus to determine the future of the property after the closure of the hospital’s civil unit. Previously, the release added, bed availability in the forensic unit was not sufficient to meet local need. DHS entered into a settlement agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union to expand the forensic unit to reduce wait times.
The release added: “In order to continue to meet the needs of counties who work with Norristown State Hospital for forensic treatment and to provide timely compassionate care, DHS and DGS are committed to building a facility designed to enhance the safety of patients and staff while providing a high quality of care for decades to come.”
Moving forward, a spokesperson recently added, there will be continued dialogue and transparency to ensure the new building will address the needs of those served at NSH, the dedicated employees at NSH, and the community while fulfilling the obligation of ensuring that individuals in the criminal justice system who need mental health treatment have access to that treatment in the most appropriate setting. Once selected, DHS and DGS will work with the design professional on the project to provide opportunities for public engagement as the project develops.
Nearly $242 million is currently allocated for the construction project, which will eventually house approximately 420 beds and will include a medical unit to address patients’ co-occurring behavioral and physical health needs. Additional funding will be pursued in future budget cycles. DHS and DGS are seeking design professionals to draw on best practices to create a building that is aesthetically comforting for both patients and the broader community, builds a physical presence designed to contribute to patients’ recovery and restoration, and is safe for patients, staff, and the community.
DHS and DGS will provide opportunities to share plans with the surrounding communities and solicit their feedback as the project moves forward.
A DHS spokesperson added: “This development is a step in the right direction in many ways for both the people served at NSH and the broader community. The physical space will be upgraded but this new building also means NSH to will have the space to provide a high quality of care for decades to come. DHS is also developing a long-term plan for use of the NSH property that is safe for patients, staff, and the community.”
The new facility will eventually replace two buildings that currently house this unit. This includes the primary forensic unit, Building 51, which is nearly 80 years old and requires significant maintenance and is approaching the end its of useful, cost-efficient life. The second building, Building 10, will continue being used as a temporary solution for forensic patients until there is full capacity in the new facility. In addition, a currently unused building will be demolished to make room for the new facility.
The solicitation emphasizes DHS and DGS’s need for, “design professionals to draw on best practices to create a building that is aesthetically comforting for both patients and the broader community.” This highlights DHS’s goal of making sure the new facility will be a positive and attractive addition to the Norristown area.
As for a projected timetable, it is anticipated that the project will begin design in the fall of 2022 once the design professional has been selected. Design is expected to take about two years and while some work may occur on-site earlier, major construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2024, the spokesperson said.