The brookline center for community mental health.
brookline, ma

The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health (BCCMH) provides affordable mental health care and community-based social services to individuals and families. Located in a historic brownstone that was only partially accessible, BCCMH hired our firm to conduct a feasibility study and then a renovation to improve functionality and user experience on a limited budget with relatively limited strategic interventions.

Our firm completed interior renovations, exterior ramp, and phase 1 of the landscape design in January 2021.

In July 2024, Phase 2 of the landscape design was completed. Ashley McGraw Architects designed a serene, restorative garden for outdoor therapy sessions—transforming a challenging site with a 7-foot elevation change, an unstable brick wall, and privacy concerns into a fully accessible green oasis. The space now features semi-private therapy nooks, a children’s play area, a multipurpose court, and a tranquil retreat where staff can unwind. Every element of the design was guided by a single goal: to support healing and well-being through thoughtful, compassionate design. The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health is also the first local community mental health center in Massachusetts to build a designated outdoor space for mental health services, setting a new standard for innovative, nature-based mental health services in the community.

*Phase 1 of the project completed as studioMLA Architects prior to acquisition by Ashley McGraw Architects