COLUMBIA, S.C.—Balfour Beatty has marked the topping out of South Carolina’s new psychiatric residential treatment facility for justice-involved youth in Columbia. This effort was led by the South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities’ Office of Mental Health (OMH) along with Construction Manager Agent Services from LCK in Columbia.
To reach this significant achievement in the construction process, project teammates placed the uppermost steel beam on the roof level of the one-story facility in addition to substantially completing the building’s structure. Once complete, the 24,000-square-foot facility will provide critical mental health and rehabilitation services for youth committed to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), who have significant psychiatric treatment needs.
Balfour Beatty broke ground approximately ten months ago on the specialized 24-bed facility that will feature state-of-the-art treatment areas, educational spaces and secure residential accommodations designed to support comprehensive care and rehabilitation programs. The facility also incorporates advanced security features while maintaining a therapeutic environment where young people can recover, grow and prepare for re-entry into their communities.
David Stanton, Balfour Beatty Vice President in the Carolinas said: “This milestone represents significant progress in delivering this essential facility for the state.
“Leveraging our company’s extensive experience in healthcare construction throughout the Carolinas, we look forward to delivering on the unique requirements of this specialised treatment facility. We are proud to collaborate with the South Carolina Office of Mental Health, Department of Juvenile Justice and Recovery Solutions on this important project that will provide much-needed comprehensive care and rehabilitation services for young people in our community.”
As general contractor, Balfour Beatty provides construction services throughout the design, construction, operation and maintenance phases of this project. Working closely with OMH, Recovery Solutions, Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and design partners, Balfour Beatty is implementing best practices for healthcare construction while adhering to specific requirements for youth treatment facilities.
Robert Bank, M.D., the Interim Director of the Office of Mental Health said: “The topping out of this facility marks an important step toward fulfilling our mission to provide appropriate care for youth committed to DJJ who have serious psychiatric disorders.
“This facility represents our commitment to rehabilitation and supporting successful reintegration of youth into their communities. We appreciate Balfour Beatty’s expertise in bringing this vision to life.”
With the building structure and exterior and interior framing substantially complete, interior buildout and delivery of specialized treatment areas that define this facility’s impact are underway. The psychiatric residential treatment facility is scheduled for completion in late 2025 and will be operated by Recovery Solutions, providing vital services for young people throughout South Carolina.
