Clark/Kjos Architects, LLC

Clark/Kjos Architects, LLC CKA is a unique group of professionals highly focused on architecture for health, healthy environments, sustainable design practices, and inspiring design.

Mental health and recovery spaces work best when people feel safe, supported, and treated with dignity.We kept that in m...
05/27/2026

Mental health and recovery spaces work best when people feel safe, supported, and treated with dignity.

We kept that in mind while designing Lincoln County’s new 16-bed recovery facility in Newport, Oregon. The project helps address Oregon’s ongoing gap in substance use treatment access, especially in rural communities.

The facility includes residential treatment, counseling and therapy spaces, peer support, medical care, exercise areas, and shared gathering spaces designed to support connection and recovery. Daylight, nature, outdoor spaces, and quiet reflection areas were also integrated to support a trauma informed approach to care.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, projects like this are a reminder that thoughtful behavioral health design can play an important role in supporting healing, recovery, and dignity in care.

At a time when college student mental health is still under intense pressure, the spaces students move through every day...
05/19/2026

At a time when college student mental health is still under intense pressure, the spaces students move through every day matter more than ever.

Recent research shows nearly 40% of college students report moderate to severe depression, anxiety remains one of the most common health concerns on campuses, and demand for counseling services continues to rise.

The University of Oregon Student Health Center was designed with that reality in mind.

For this project, the goal was to create an environment that feels approachable, calming, and connected to student well-being rather than clinical.

Mental health support on campus starts long before a counseling appointment. Design plays a role too.



CKA just wrapped a two-day management retreat with Tyler Carlson, Scott Combs, Meghan Panarella, Scot Jahn, Megan McKinn...
05/14/2026

CKA just wrapped a two-day management retreat with Tyler Carlson, Scott Combs, Meghan Panarella, Scot Jahn, Megan McKinnie, Will Sloman and Kathy Kershaw on the Oregon coast, and the conversations that came out of it are still with us.

We spent two days talking about who we are as a healthcare architecture firm, what makes our work different, and what we want to look like in ten years. Honest discussions about culture, trust, staff support, and how research should inform the way we design, not just what we deliver.

The clarity that came out of those two days was real. Human-centered design, listening before designing, relationships that outlast any single project. These aren't new ideas for us, but we left with a sharper sense of how to build around them.

Excited to see where the next chapter takes us.

Nearly 1 in 5 youth ages 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year, according to a fed...
05/12/2026

Nearly 1 in 5 youth ages 12 to 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode in the past year, according to a federal survey. That reality makes adolescent behavioral health spaces more important than ever.

This 27-bed inpatient behavioral health unit was designed for teens ages 13 to 18 experiencing acute mental health crisis. Every design decision was shaped by the balance between safety, dignity, and recovery.

In adolescent behavioral health settings, safety cannot feel punitive or institutional. The challenge was creating an environment that meets rigorous clinical and ligature-resistance requirements while still feeling calm, supportive, and human.

Daylight, soft forms, color, and open space became essential design tools. Murals and natural light help soften common areas. Materials and detailing reduce institutional cues without compromising performance. The result is an environment designed to support healing while respecting the experiences of the adolescents receiving care.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For us, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on how healthcare architecture can bett...
05/05/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. For us, it’s a moment to pause and reflect on how healthcare architecture can better support mental and behavioral health.

This month we'll be sharing a few behavioral health and mental health projects from our portfolio, along with key lessons learned. How to design for patient safety without creating institutional environments. How space planning, daylight, and material choices can support dignity, recovery, and staff well being.

This is ongoing work. Each project helps us refine how design can improve care outcomes and the experience of both patients and care teams.






Most healthcare buildings aren’t designed with the environment as the starting point.Not because people don’t care. Beca...
04/22/2026

Most healthcare buildings aren’t designed with the environment as the starting point.

Not because people don’t care. Because the work is complex. The timelines are tight. And the pressure to deliver is real.

On Earth Day, it’s worth noticing where things are shifting though. We’re seeing more projects where sustainability shows up in practical ways

• Reusing existing buildings instead of starting over
• Bringing daylight and biophilia into spaces where people are healing and working long hours
• Planning layouts that reduce staff steps and energy use at the same time

These aren’t headline grabbing moves. But they change how buildings perform. And how people experience care.

We've seen this in projects like the adaptive reuse project Willamette Family Medical Center https://www.ckarch.com/projects/willamette-family-medical-center/, where a thoughtful remodel of a big box store improved the patient experience while making better use of what was already there.

Sustainability in healthcare isn’t usually a single strategy. It’s a pattern of decisions. And paying attention to those decisions now are shaping what better care looks like going forward.






We’re pleased to share that both Megan McKinnie and William Sloman have been promoted to Associate at Clark/Kjos Archite...
03/18/2026

We’re pleased to share that both Megan McKinnie and William Sloman have been promoted to Associate at Clark/Kjos Architects!

William is a licensed architect and has been with CKA since 2018. Over the years he has contributed to many renovation projects, helping the team navigate the complexities of working within active healthcare environments. William's strength lies in managing technical challenges, supporting teams with digital tools, and he is known for his steady problem solving and willingness to take on new responsibilities. In addition to managing projects, he oversees our in-house IT systems and leads the firm’s Visualization Committee, helping keep our tools and graphics capabilities current.

Megan has been with the firm for three years and brings more than a decade of design experience. She recently played a key management role on our Compass Oncology adaptive reuse project, helping guide coordination and design decisions that support both patients and care teams. Megan is great at keeping multidisciplinary teams aligned, managing technical details, and is known for her ability to keep projects organized and moving forward. Megan is also a Living Future Accredited professional. Within the office she is a member of our Thought Leadership Committee, participates in multiple firm committees, and helps advance sustainability initiatives across the practice.

We recently celebrated Megan and William with a social hour in our office, where the partners shared a few words about their accomplishments and contributions to the firm. It was a great moment to recognize their work and toast this next step in their careers.

We’re grateful for the leadership and energy they bring to the firm and look forward to what comes next.

Behind the scenes from our Compass Oncology photoshoot. Stay tuned for the final images of this adaptive reuse project, ...
03/11/2026

Behind the scenes from our Compass Oncology photoshoot. Stay tuned for the final images of this adaptive reuse project, where a former big box store was transformed into a new oncology clinic.

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