Renovating behavioral health environments is a complex balancing act, one that requires careful planning, informed decision-making, and, most importantly, a deep understanding of the needs of those who will provide and receive care within the facility.
A unique set of risks are presented by such projects, ranging from disruptions in care delivery, to safety vulnerabilities during active construction, to the challenge of integrating trauma-informed and patient-centered design principles within pre-constructed spaces. And, as with all behavioral health projects, the pressure on stakeholders and clinical decision makers to deliver results successfully and smoothly is high.
In navigating these challenges, we believe the best outcomes start with having a clear de-risk strategy from the offset. Which is why at Kingsway Group we developed our 7 Step De-Risk Process – a proven framework trusted in over 10,000 projects worldwide to proactively enhance safety, avoid renovation delays, and enable smarter investments in long-term solutions.
What it means to “De-Risk” a renovation project
In behavioral health, de-risking isn’t just about avoiding construction delays or cost overruns, it’s about protecting the patient at the center of care, the clinicians under pressure, and the facilities teams tasked with maintaining safety around the clock.
At Kingsway, our de-risk process takes a comprehensive approach in order to enhance safety and reduce risk both during and after renovation project to maximize long-term value, compliance, and operational continuity.
- Early relationship-building: We begin by working closely with the project partners, architects, and clinical teams to understand the facility’s unique needs and renovation constraints.
- Project Lifecycle Integration: During the Project Specification phase, Kingsway’s in-house Project and Design teams work closely with clinical stakeholders to define the scope and ensure best practice in design for behavioral health environments. This includes insights from care teams and consideration of feedback from people with lived experience. Once the specification is finalized, the Manufacture & Delivery phase begins — with products produced in our Michigan-based facility and delivered to site with precision, ensuring no surprises during installation.
- Lifecycle safety planning: From pre-configuration through post-installation support, our De-Risk process ensures that every product is specified, installed, and proactively maintained with safety assurance in mind.
Capital Challenges: Avoiding project delays and budget overruns
Renovation projects are often subject to strict scheduling and timelines. To keep accelerated renovation projects on track and aligned with safety outcomes, capital teams need configurable and pre-tested solutions that are engineered for lasting, safe performance in high-risk environments.
For projects under tight timelines, our KwikShip® Program offers fast-tracked access to our most in-demand, ligature-resistant Complete Door Systems, manufactured right here in the U.S. and delivered to site pre-assembled and pre-tested for smooth installation and assured performance. The program reduces lead times, removes uncertainty, and ensures stakeholders don’t have to sacrifice safety in the pursuit of speed.
Complete Door Systems available via KwikShip®:
SWING Anti-Barricade
SWING ensures staff are prepared should a service user attempt to barricade a door. It provides exceptional durability and simplicity with anti-ligature design.
SOLO Single-Action
SOLO provides the complete ligature-resistant solution for single-action door requirements within a behavioral health facility.
SHOWER Ensuite
SHOWER offers a high-strength, fixed-to-the-frame solution to safely maintain patient privacy in private shower and washroom facilities.
Clinical Voices: Designing with safety in mind
Designing with safety in mind means giving clinical teams the environments they need to succeed, not just in moments of calm, but in the moments that matter most. When frontline clinical staff are included early in the renovation planning process, their insights can help shape some of the most meaningful safety outcomes. From room layouts that improve observation to door hardware solutions that support quicker, safer interventions, every design choice can influence how effectively care is delivered.
In delivering over 10,000 risk-reducing projects worldwide, we’ve seen the real-world benefits of ensuring that design is aligned with clinical workflows. Which is why we listen closely to our behavioral health care partners to ensure each and everyone one of our solutions is designed to best serve staff and patients.
Choosing the right project partners
Renovating behavioral health spaces will always carry pressure, even more so when project timelines are tight. But with the right approach and the right partner, that pressure becomes a path forward.
By combining flexible, proven products with a structured planning process, Kingsway is here to help de-risk your renovation projects in a way that aligns with both clinical priorities and long-term capital strategy.
Want to dive deeper into these strategies?
Join us on Tuesday, June 3 at 12:00-13:00 EDT for our next online Lunch & Learn event!
- Online Event: Creating Healing Spaces for Mental Wellbeing
