Greenville Behavioral Health Hospital

Acadia Healthcare partnered with East Carolina University Health to build the new Greenville Behavioral Health Hospital in Greenville, North Carolina. This 102,400 SF, state-of-the-art facility is designed to address critical mental health needs in the surrounding community. With 144 inpatient beds, including 24 beds dedicated specifically to children and adolescents, the facility provides specialized care and serves as a teaching hospital for East Carolina University medical students. CMTA provided MEP engineering and technology design services to create a high-performance environment tailored to the needs of patients and staff.

A standout feature of the facility is its advanced geothermal HVAC system, which incorporates 200 wells drilled 400 feet deep, with plans for a future expansion of 40 additional wells. Complementing this system is a dedicated outdoor air system (DOAS), designed to enhance indoor air quality and ensure a healthier healing environment. While Acadia’s standard HVAC system, which uses packaged rooftop units and condensing hot water boilers, performs at 125 EUI, the Greenville facility is projected to operate at just 75-80 EUI. This energy-efficient design is expected to save approximately $35,000 in annual utility costs, allowing more resources to be directed toward patient care.

Additionally, CMTA assisted the owner in applying for federal clean energy tax credits, covering 30% of the geothermal system’s installation costs. These incentives make renewable energy a practical, cost-effective choice, providing a two-year payback on the construction premium while delivering long-term operational savings.

To bolster operational reliability and resiliency, the facility is equipped with a 750-kW emergency generator, providing backup power for the entire facility so that normal operations are never hindered. CMTA’s design approach also emphasized efficiency during construction by incorporating prefabricated restroom components.

Keeping energy efficiency and sustainability at the forefront of our design goals, CMTA implemented commercial-grade LED lighting with high efficacies throughout the facility. Interior occupancy-based controls were provided to ensure lighting automatically turns off when spaces are unoccupied. Additionally, the majority of all regularly occupied interior spaces were provided with dimming controls, providing occupant comfort and further aiding in minimizing energy consumption.

The Greenville Behavioral Health Hospital stands as a model of innovation, sustainability, and patient-centered design, showcasing how thoughtful engineering and collaboration can transform healthcare delivery while prioritizing both community well-being and environmental stewardship.