Revolutionizing psychiatric care

Sneak peek: New Menninger Clinic Mental Health Epicenter redefines the statusquo

None of the existing furniture or supplies will make the move from Menninger'sold facility on Gessner Drive, so fine bedding and bath linens were bought new —and nice.
Photo by Whitney Radley
All of the patient buildings face an interior courtyard. Berms form a visualbarrier, creating a simultaneous sense of openness and privacy. Other outdoorfeatures include a meditation garden, a labyrinth and an herb garden.
Photo by Whitney Radley
The Menninger Clinic focuses on overall wellness. The campus is outfitted with asaline swimming pool, a basketball gym, workout equipment and a pilates room.
Photo by Whitney Radley
Even interior spaces emphasize the outdoors. This is a patient common area, withadjoining computer areas and private rooms off to the side for quietgatherings.
Photo by Whitney Radley

Almost 10 years ago, the Menninger Clinic, a nationally-renowned psychiatric treatment facility, made a big move to Houston from its longtime home base in Topeka, Kan., to be near the Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital, its new affiliates.

Seventeen months ago, Menninger started work on a new 120-bed hospital, situated on 50 sprawling acres just south of the Texas Medical Center. And on May 1, the clinic's Mental Health Epicenter will open as the new home for the thousands of patients Menninger sees each year. (A grand opening program will be held on Thursday, featuring former Congressman Patrick Kennedy and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, with guided tours available.)

The move puts Menninger significantly closer to its hospital affiliates, which will ease collaboration, while also allowing room for future expansion. According to president and CEO Ian Aitken, next steps include a neuroscience research facility and improved outpatient services.

Our exclusive tour of the new facility proves that it doesn't look like your typical hospital.

And that's not to mention the aesthetic improvements.

Our exclusive tour of the new facility proves that it doesn't look like your typical hospital. The buildings' clean lines form a circle around a large courtyard, which is filled with rolling hills and a leafy landscape. The space is meant to feel peaceful and introspective, with a focus on the outdoors.

Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture inspired the design (valances in the patient rooms even incorporate a design based on a Wright painting) — an influence evident from the dark wood molding to the pervasive stained glass motif to the heavy, linear furniture interspersed throughout the campus.

The clinic's history is interwoven throughout, too, with photographs from the hospital in Topeka and artifacts from doctors and patients past.

Shawna Morris, senior vice president and chief operating officer, explained that everything at the new facility was planned out to the last detail: Plenty of courtyards and al fresco seating areas, including an outdoor kitchen; fine bed linens and mattresses to fit individual preferences; real dishware in the cafeteria, as well as a commissioned art piece lining the dining room wall that is virtually indestructible, and able to be cleaned with a damp cloth.

Each employee — all of whom work at the hospital full-time, unlike most psychiatric facilities — has access to natural light, including the usually-sequestered pharmacists and the chefs in the kitchen. Most have a window view of what matters: The patients.

Most employees have a window view of what matters: The patients.

The visual design aligns with the original intentions of the clinic, which was founded by Drs. Karl, Will and Charles F. Menninger in 1919.

"The Menningers are giants in psychology. They were very much interested in addressing stigma about mental health," Aitken told CultureMap.

Aitken explained that Menniger's treatment distinguishes itself from many others because of the length of stay: Patients spend six to eight weeks at the clinic, an average of 45 days longer than at other treatment facilities.

"This is important because people have complex disorders," said Aitken. "We take the time to sort them out. We're known for wiping the slate clean."

The Menninger Clinic will host guided tours of the Mental Health Epicenter from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, in conjunction with a grand opening program on the new campus. Find more information here.

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sleep like an olympian

Houston Olympians share sleep tips at luxury mattress maker's posh store

Luxury sleep brand Saatva’s Houston showroom (1703 Post Oak Blvd.), referred to as a “Viewing Room” by the company, is one of only three in Texas, and 17 in the country. Its steadfast stance to exclusively manufacture all of their products — from mattresses to furniture collections— in the US, has contributed to the 15-year-old, eco-friendly company’s success.

Courtesy of Saatva

Saatva has joined Team USA as the official mattress for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

Saatva is known for its made-to-order luxury mattresses that are always delivered white glove — never rolled and shipped. Designed in collaboration by Hines Collective and award-winning multidisciplinary architecture and design firm Ware Malcomb, the 4,000-square-foot viewing room integrates modern touches and emphasizes the new interpretation of Smarter Luxury Sleep.

From the moment a visitor enters through the foyer, the viewing room aims to redefine the customer experience. With its aromatic fragrance, subtle color palette, warm lighting, and sustainable flooring and wall treatments, Saatva Houston offers an inviting respite from the city’s bustle.

Further into the space, silvery trees form a canopy under the ceiling’s gentle curves. Soft fabrics and floor-to-ceiling mirrors punctuate the walls throughout, creating a unified environment from start to finish. In keeping with Saatva’s “made in America” philosophy, interior materials and finishes, including the architectural lighting, were manufactured in the U.S.

The Houston store also features a collaboration with Samsung, allowing customers the option to choose a self-guided tour of Saatva’s products. Customers can also test pillows, sateen sheets, and beautifully-upholstered furniture collections in store. Saatva even thought of the four-legged family members with a posh dog bed.

Supporting Team U.S.A.

Saatva’s commitment to all things American now reaches beyond the realm of manufacturing. The brand recently partnered with Team U.S.A. to provide mattresses during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. To celebrate their 15 year anniversary and new partnership, Saatva Houston recently invited two highly-decorated, Houston-native Olympic athletes to an intimate gathering to share the importance of restorative sleep.

Three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist Simone Manuel — who also happens to be the first Black American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming — was joined by two-time Olympian and four-time Olympic medalist Bryce Deadmon (Track & Field) for the celebratory breakfast. Both athletes dished on their favorite Houston cheat meal spots and the restorative sleep routines they live by.

Pre-sleep routine of Olympian Simone Manuel (two Gold, four Silver, one Bronze)

“I think the biggest thing is definitely putting my phone away as early as possible,” she says. “It’s hard, you know? There are so many distractions, but I try to at least limit them if I can’t completely eliminate them.” Manual gets in bed around 9 pm, with her phone off limits. “I like to watch TV before I go to sleep, but I at least try to turn down the brightness and put on blue light glasses, and that helps a lot. Sometimes I’ll put the TV on mute and then I’ll turn on some white noise.” Manuel’s go-to sleepy time extras? Lavender linen spray and eucalyptus incense.

Favorite Houston healthy spots: Local Table and JLB Eatery
Favorite Houston cheat meal spots: On The Kirb, The Rouxpour, and Pappadeaux.

Pre-sleep routine of Olympian Bryce Deadmon (two Gold, one Silver, one Bronze)

Deadmon relies on 20 minutes of meditation to get ready to go to bed. “I try to make sure I do that just to make sure I’m not really thinking when I get into bed. So, I kind of regulate my breathing before getting into bed — that’s really my main thing. It can be dangerous,” Deadmon adds with a laugh. “I have fallen asleep while meditating. I’ll wake up like ‘What’s going on?!’ That’s not supposed to happen. But it really calms me down before I actually go to sleep.”

Favorite Houston healthy spot: Pre-made meals from H-E-B
Favorite Houston cheat meal spots: Doña Leti’s and Burger Bodega.

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