North York General Hospital’s (NYGH), Phillips House Project – ‘A House and Garden for Healing’ – transforms a historically significant 1940’s Georgian home into a Centre of Excellence in mental health care for children, adolescents, young women and their families.

The first of its kind in Canada, the newly expanded house will accommodate socially inclusive, culturally diverse outpatient and day hospital services, including include developmental assessments for young children, individual based psychotherapy, group therapy, eating disorder and substance use programs, as well as a range of community partners. By consolidating these programs under one roof, the hospital can support an easy-to-access, integrated service delivery model, improve community outreach and create an optimal patient and family-centered clinical care environment in a home-like, non-institutional treatment milieu.

The design capitalizes on the quality and character of the heritage home and its beautiful landscape features to quell anxiety, create an intimate setting and reinforce the critical role nature plays in health, wellness and healing. Arrival under a lush tree canopy sets the tone for the calm and tranquil therapeutic surrounding. Existing flora, complemented by new groves of trees and grassy berm, delineate different landscaped zones, walking paths as well as herb and vegetable gardens. Together with bright, sun-filled rooms, a generous outdoor dining space, and newly restored front porch, these important biophilic features blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, allowing the building to breathe, flex and fully connect occupants with nature.