Foundation stone of the new Garraf Mental Health Centre

Parc Sanitari Joan de Déu has today laid the foundation stone of what will be the new Garraf Mental Health Centre, next to the current Hospital Sant Antoni Abat in Vilanova i la Geltrú at Ronda Ibèrica 133.

Aina Plaza, Director General for Health Planning and Research, Juan Luis Ruiz López, Mayor of Vilanova i la Geltrú, Dr Sebastià J. Santaeugènia, CEO at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, and Dr Antoni Serrano, Director of the Mental Health Network at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, led the ceremony to lay the foundation stone accompanied by professionals and representatives of the local authority and the institution.

This new structure measuring 3,543 m²will host the Garraf Adult Mental Health Centre (CSMA) over 1,300 m², the Adult Day Hospital (HDA), the Community Rehabilitation Service (SRC), the Child and Youth Mental Health Centre (CSMIJ), the Child and Youth Day Hospital (HDIJ) and the Drug Addiction Care and Monitoring Centre (CAS). Until now, some of these health facilities were housed in Hospital Sant Antoni Abat under the Consorci Sanitari Alt Penedès-Garraf. The new building means all services will share the same place while promoting health and seeking to reduce the social stigma towards people with mental health problems.

Ruiz said that this is "a huge step forward in ensuring that everyone can get the care they need in an area as important as mental health with the construction of this new facility which will cater for our town and the whole county. We are here not only to put up a building but also to build a venue for trust, care and respect."

Plaza pointed out that "this facility is more than just an infrastructure, as it enables us to move forward towards a fairer and more humane society. Mental health is a priority of this legislature and this project illustrates the transformation we are seeking to bring about."

Santaeugènia noted that "we only approach our relationship with our users based on an integrating and anti-stigma approach, and this is why it is so important for us to imbue the spaces with a sense of everyday life and humanity. This building is a venue open to mental health and anti-stigma organisations who we want to share our values and knowledge with."

The project will cost around €7 million and is expected to be completed by September 2026.

Improvements for the public and professionals

The new Garraf Mental Health Centre is built on land donated by Vilanova i la Geltrú Town Council and will mean a significant improvement in the care provided to local users, who will have a renovated and shared community venue in keeping with the anti-stigma and humanisation of spaces principles which Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu is applying to all the institution's new facilities.

The main advantage is greater quality in the facilities for caring for people coupled with bringing together local mental health services in a single building which makes for better coordination and easier switching between services. The building will also have workrooms, an events room and a terrace which will enhance comfort for professionals.

Community wellness architecture

The new Garraf Mental Health Centre has been designed to be a departure from the image of a conventional health facility with the goal of fitting in with the town. The building will therefore be constructed on a recognisable urban scale with rhythmically proportioned openings. "We have designed a building which steps outside the architectural rationale of health buildings and blends in with the rest of the frontages in the built-up area," commented Santaeugènia.

The idea is to make the mental health centre fit into the urban landscape with a façade clad in ceramic which creates continuity with the surrounding area.

The interior is spacious based on a central staircase which provides views of the various floors and makes it easier to find your way around once you are inside.

It has been designed using natural materials with natural colours which create a sense of calm.

A building committed to energy efficiency and sustainability

The centre has been designed to reduce energy demand and the facilities have been engineered to be highly energy efficient to minimise energy use and make the most of renewable sources while taking special care to ensure the comfort of professionals and users. The project has sought to achieve an A energy rating and minimise CO₂ emissions. Photovoltaic panels for power self-consumption will be fitted along with efficient heat production equipment. Solar shading will be installed on openings so as not to increase the building's energy demand.

The building will feature centralised supervision under a BMS (Building Management System) handled and controlled remotely from Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu's main site in Sant Boi. This means that Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu will be able to ensure proper preventive and corrective maintenance.

A foundation stone packed with symbolism

The foundation stone which has been laid to begin the works is a Perspex box containing several objects: a shawl and Giants of Vilanova i la Geltrú figures representing the public, a sculpture made by a user of the Torrents d'Art programme representing all users, ceramic pomegranates representing the institution and professionals of Sant Joan de Déu, the plans of the new building, the construction record and the day's newspapers.