In Toronto, a remarkable transformation took place that is reshaping the future of mental health care for young people. Stella’s Place, a leading behavioral health provider, converted an outdated candy factory into a vibrant, welcoming youth mental health facility designed specifically to serve young people aged 16 to 29. This facility goes beyond traditional clinical spaces by fostering autonomy, community, and healing in a fresh, inviting environment.
Reimagining Outpatient Services at a Youth Mental Health Facility
Stella’s Place offers outpatient behavioral health services tailored to the needs of youth, including drop-in counseling, community programs, and short-term individual counseling. But the real innovation is how this youth mental health facility was designed—not just to provide services but to create a space where young people feel comfortable, respected, and empowered.
Toronto-based architecture firm Stantec led the design, focusing on transforming the former candy factory into a modern adolescent mental health facility that avoids the sterile, clinical feel so common in behavioral health centers. Their approach was deeply collaborative, guided by input from the young people who would use the space.
Community Input Shapes the Youth Mental Health Facility
To ensure the facility met the needs of its users, Stantec and Stella’s Place engaged youth, families, and staff in visioning sessions. These discussions helped define how the space should feel and function.
“We had a really good visioning engagement session, and then we got to work,” said Deanna Brown, a principal at Stantec. This feedback gave young participants ownership of the youth mental health facility, making it a place that truly reflects their preferences and needs.
Preserving Character While Innovating a Adolescent Mental Health Facility
One unique aspect of the project was maintaining the original character of the candy factory. Unlike typical renovations, this youth mental health facility kept the counseling rooms varied in size and style, reflecting the desire for spaces with different “characters” rather than uniform rooms.
This respect for the building’s quirks helped foster a sense of belonging and comfort among the young people using the facility.
Biophilic Design in the Youth Mental Health Facility
A standout feature of this adolescent mental health facility is its use of biophilic design, which incorporates plants and natural elements indoors to create a calming atmosphere. This was a priority for the youth themselves, who insisted on greenery to make the space feel alive and welcoming.
“It looks great,” Brown said. “The young adults were right to push for it.”
Autonomy and Choice in the Adolescent Mental Health Facility
A core principle behind the design of this Adolescent mental health facility was autonomy—giving young people choice over how and where they engage within the space. Wide hallways and flexible seating areas allow individuals to move away from group settings to decompress or socialize as they wish.
Stephen Parker, a behavioral health planner at Stantec, noted, “The autonomy of spaces allows you to choose if you want to feel cloistered, self-reflect, or be seen but not watched.”
Award-Winning Youth Mental Health Facility Sets a New Standard
The innovative design and youth-centered approach earned Stella’s Place the Behavioral Health category award in the Behavioral Health Business Architecture and Design Awards. It stands as a model for how a adolescent mental health facility can be welcoming, empowering, and therapeutic—all while respecting the community’s voice.
Lessons from Stella’s Place’s Adolescent Mental Health Facility
This facility shows the importance of engaging youth in design, respecting the character of spaces, integrating nature, and prioritizing autonomy. Other behavioral health centers looking to serve young people would do well to follow this example.
