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Client
ChildSafe
Location
San Antonio, TX
Size
63,000 s.f.
Services
Interior Design, Furniture
Certifications
LEED Silver Certified
Awards
2021 - Inaugural Purpose Awards
2020 - AIA San Antonio People + Place Award
2020 - AIA San Antonio Mayor's Choice Award
2020 - San Antonio Business Journal Community Impact Award
2020 - San Antonio Business Journal Design Awards, Best Public Project Award
2020 - Fast Company Innovation by Design Award, Wellness
2020 - Chicago Anthenaeum American Architecture Design Award, Government/Civic
Collaborators
Photographer

ChildSafe is Bexar County’s only Children’s Advocacy Center dedicated to supporting children and teenagers who have experienced abuse, neglect, or sexual trauma. The design draws inspiration from nature to create a healing environment that fosters comfort and a sense of refuge. From floor to ceiling, the team kept hope at the forefront of the design process, ensuring every detail contributes to restoration and resilience.

The new building combines departments and offices that had been scattered all over town into once facility in order to provide a single source of support and services for children and families who have experienced abuse. This includes law enforcement, courts, and Child Protective Services as well as juvenile probation offices and family counseling. Interiors accommodate the different uses with the accompanying varied needs, including durability (law enforcement) and playfulness (children’s areas) expressed in choice of furnishings and the use of color (the architects studied the psychological effects of color on people). The fundamental intent was to make the space feel safe for everyone: children, families and staff.

 

ChildSafe - Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center

Thoughtfully designed for children, the lowered ceiling under the exterior stair creates a cozy, child-friendly space that invites exploration and play. This scaled-down area adds a sense of intimacy and comfort, making it a beloved spot for the kids.

ChildSafe - Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center

Angled reveal details, seen in elements like wood panels, floor joints, acoustical wall panels, and room signage, reflect the roof’s geometry.

ChildSafe - Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center
ChildSafe - Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center

The Level 2 common space, connecting the building’s two wings, features flexible lounge seating, custom booths, powered bar-top tables, and adaptable dining options to support diverse uses and foster connection.

Collaborating with ChildSafe to design unique wayfinding symbols for each service area allowed for bold and subtle accents throughout the building, using variations in scale and color.

ChildSafe - Harvey E. Najim Children & Family Center

Watch here.

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