Loudoun County Youth Services Center

Design Philosophy

The design centers on creating trauma-informed spaces that promote healing. The interior design steps away from institutional aesthetics, incorporating elements of biophilia that bring the outside world in. A distinctive "Main Street" corridor with curved walls serves as a central organizing element, helping with wayfinding while reducing institutional feel. Blues, greens, and warm orange tones create a calming atmosphere throughout the building, while curved lines in floor patterns echo natural landscapes. This approach proved essential given the security requirements that limited direct views to the exterior.

Interior Features

The facility's interior includes furniture and finishes that balance durability with creating an uplifting environment. Multiple furniture types and colors give residents choices while maintaining necessary safety standards. The design team selected intensive-use and detention-grade furnishings where required, while maintaining a non-institutional appearance. In areas like the Teen Center, comfortable seating and study tables create spaces where youth can complete homework and receive academic support. Clerestory windows flood interior spaces with natural light, supporting occupants' circadian rhythms and creating a connection to the outside world.

Space Planning

The facility includes two 10-bed housing units in the detention area and a 15-bed youth shelter unit. A full commercial kitchen, dining area, medical services area, and visitation spaces support daily operations. The design includes dedicated staff spaces, with well-appointed break rooms and locker facilities to enhance staff retention and wellbeing. The facility features two recreation spaces, each approximately 50 by 50 feet, providing room for physical activity and programming. The design allows for future expansion of up to 20 additional beds if needed.

Environmental Commitments

Sustainability shaped key design decisions. The facility earned LEED Gold certification and incorporates green building elements, including energy-efficient LED lighting throughout, a central geothermal HVAC system, and water-conservation measures. Additional sustainable features include bicycle storage, preferred parking for low-emission vehicles, low-flow plumbing fixtures with shower timers, and construction waste management that diverted at least 75 percent of waste from landfills. The facility uses bamboo and linoleum flooring, along with FSC-certified wood products.

Youth Support Spaces

The youth shelter and resource center sections showcase a fresh approach to juvenile services. These areas feature welcoming environments with comfortable furnishings and positive messaging, creating an atmosphere that resembles a school or community center rather than a traditional institutional setting. Since its opening in April 2024, approximately 40 families have utilized the center's services. Four staff liaisons work with families to connect them with clinical and non-clinical services, including counseling, mental health services, substance-use programs, mentoring, and parenting programs.

Results and Impact

The facility demonstrates how design affects both occupants and staff. The blend of trauma-informed design principles, sustainable features, and attention to users' needs sets a benchmark for future juvenile service centers. The Department of Juvenile Justice reviewed the design to ensure compliance with state standards while supporting rehabilitation goals.

Evolution and Adaptation

The project, which began with a needs assessment study in 2008, evolved to reflect changing approaches in juvenile justice and rehabilitation. Though the project timeline extended longer than typical due to economic conditions and evolving approaches to juvenile justice, the construction phase proceeded smoothly with a pre-qualified contractor experienced in detention facility construction. The final design balances security requirements with creating an environment that supports rehabilitation and positive outcomes for youth in Loudoun County.

Looking Forward

This facility illustrates how architectural design can advance juvenile services from a correctional model to one emphasizing prevention, intervention, and healing. Through interior design, space planning, and a focus on normalized environments, the Loudoun County Youth Services Center exemplifies effective juvenile facility design.

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