Building Hope: Colonial Behavioral Health Breaks Ground on Center for Support & Wellness
On World Suicide Prevention Day, GuernseyTingle joined Colonial Behavioral Health (CBH), Governor Glenn Youngkin, and community leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Center for Support & Wellness, a $12.5 million, 14,000-square-foot facility that will transform access to urgent, compassionate behavioral health care in the Greater Williamsburg region.
GuernseyTingle is honored to have played a key role in designing this much-needed resource, working alongside an exceptional team of project partners, including MBP, Henderson Inc.; AES Consulting Engineers; Speight, Marshall & Francis; Thompson Consulting Engineers and Currin Design Consulting, among others.
A Vision 18 Years in the Making
Located on the grounds of Eastern State Hospital, the Center for Support & Wellness represents nearly two decades of vision and persistence by CBH Executive Director David Coe and his team. The project was one of the first seven in Virginia to receive state funding under Governor Glenn Youngkin’s “Right Help, Right Now” initiative, which aims to strengthen and expand behavioral health services across the Commonwealth.
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne Youngkin joined state, regional and local leaders in recognizing the Center as a milestone for Virginia’s behavioral health system. The Governor called the event “one of those impactful moments” when leaders “set their political differences down” to move mountains together for the greater good.
A Lifeline for Individuals and Families
Following expected completion in September 2026, the Center will offer 24/7 crisis stabilization services as an alternative to hospital emergency departments. The facility will include short-term residential care, psychiatric and counseling support, safe CIT assessment spaces, and serve as a hub for mobile crisis teams that can respond before emergencies escalate.
Designed with dignity, safety, and compassion at its core, the Center will feature 24 beds and provide environments where individuals in crisis can receive immediate, humane care. The goal is to create a setting that supports both recovery and connection, bridging the gap between emergency intervention and long-term stability.
Designed for Compassionate Care
GuernseyTingle approached the design of the Center for Support & Wellness with a deep understanding of the emotional and physical needs of both patients and providers. Every space – from intake areas to patient rooms and staff zones – was conceived to foster calm, promote safety and encourage healing. Natural light, privacy and intuitive circulation were key design elements, ensuring that the architecture supports the Center’s mission of care, respect and community partnership.
A Community United
The Center for Support & Wellness is the only facility of its kind between Richmond and Hampton and will serve residents of Williamsburg, James City County, York County and Poquoson. CBH provided care to more than 3,500 people last year, and the new center will expand the organization’s ability to meet the growing need for behavioral health services, especially in the wake of challenges amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As CBH Executive Director David Coe said at the ceremony, “While there are no easy fixes, we intend to offer new opportunities and support we believe can and will make a difference.”
GuernseyTingle is proud to help bring that vision to life, designing a place where individuals and families in crisis can find the right help, right now.