The Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction introduces an innovative approach to supporting British Columbians with severe substance-use dependencies and mental health challenges. The Centre is named after the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm people’s traditional word for “red fish up the river,” referring to the sockeye salmon that once thrived in the Coquitlam River.
Project Name: Red Fish Healing Centre for Mental Health and Addiction
Studio Name: Parkin Architects
Project Location: Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Completion Year: 2021
Gross Built Area (m2/ ft2): 217,000 sq ft
Lead Architects: DIRECTOR John MacSween, PRINCIPAL Shane Czypyha
Photo Credits: Andor Geller Photography Ltd
Designed by Parkin Architects, Red Fish Healing Centre is believed to be the first large facility of its kind in North America dedicated to treating concurrent disorders of mental health and addiction. The Centre integrates recovery-focused programming, trauma reduction, family therapy, and First Nations cultural elements. At the heart of the facility is the Hummingbird Room, co-designed by architects in collaboration with kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation. The healing room allows clients to participate in indoor smudging customs that are vital to their healing journeys. It is lined with cedar, and features a medicine wheel and a mural painted by a local Indigenous artist.
The state-of-the-art facility is designed to prioritize healing through connection to nature, incorporating green spaces, abundant natural light, and private rooms for both patients and staff. The seven-storey facility is equipped with 15 private bedrooms on each level. The storeys facilitate clients’ different levels of acuity, moving through each storey as they progress in their healing. The Centre features shared amenities such as TV lounges, indoor and outdoor dining areas, and family visit rooms. Centralized collaboration areas between paired staff zones enable cross-unit collaboration while maintaining safety for staff, patients, and guests.
A cutting-edge telehealth infrastructure, including built-in videoconferencing tools, supports remote connections between clients, families, and care providers. The design also reimagines behavioral health care spaces by replacing traditional walls with open, highly visible layouts to foster transparency and connection within multipurpose patient areas.
Key Challenges
The project faced the challenge of preserving the site’s significant mature tree canopy. To retain as many trees as possible, the design abandoned a rectilinear layout in favor of angled patient wings. While this solution complicated the underground parking layout, the expanded parking footprint was carefully integrated into the landscape, extending to the southern bank of trees. This adaptive approach achieved multiple benefits, including enhanced views from patient rooms, central care bases, and courtyard-oriented spaces, all oriented to maximize the healing connection with nature.
Material Selection
The materials were chosen to balance safety, functionality, and symbolism. Operable vents in patient windows provide access to fresh air while ensuring safety, supporting clients’ gradual reintegration into their communities. The exterior cladding draws inspiration from the surrounding natural environment and the building’s purpose. A predominant white façade evokes the protective wrapping of traditional wool robes. Blues and greens reflect the sky, river, and forest, while ochre tones pay homage to the red cedar and salmon, both central to the region’s ecosystem and culture.
Design Approach
The design emphasizes community and connection to the outdoors. Shared spaces and amenities are thoughtfully curated with comfortable seating and natural vistas to encourage interaction and relaxation. Large windows, open sightlines, and access to green spaces create a tranquil, restorative atmosphere. These elements blend seamlessly with security and safety features, ensuring the Centre’s spaces are both therapeutic and protective.
Through a thoughtful balance of nature, culture, and innovation, the Red Fish Healing Centre showcases how architecture can support holistic recovery during concurrent treatment of mental health and addiction.
