Designed by Montgomery Sisam Architects in association with DDL Studio, PRC is the Cayman Islands’ first purpose-built, government-run acute mental health treatment facility, which responds to the long-standing need for specialized, dignified care that allows residents to receive treatment closer to home.

Historically, Caymanians requiring mental health treatment had to travel to Jamaica or Florida, placing emotional and financial strain on families. Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre closes this critical gap by offering a therapeutic farm community that empowers residents through peer support, vocational training, and holistic care. Some of the key design features include:

– Domestic-scale residential model: The campus includes nine six-bedroom cottages, as well as separate building structures for administration, clinical functions, dining, and other indoor activities. Cottages are designed with domestic-scale forms and finishes, and grouped to reflect a small island settlement, promoting privacy and dignity while ensuring passive supervision. Each cottage is painted in one of three natural tones — sun (ochre), sky (blue), or earth (terracotta) — providing a gentle, intuitive system of wayfinding that helps residents identify their home within the cluster.
– Central therapeutic and vocational hub: At the heart of the campus is a series of buildings — known as the village square — that form a central gathering area, housing critical program spaces including staff offices, clinical exam rooms, counselling and treatment areas, multi-purpose activity rooms, classrooms, and meeting spaces. This cluster also features a lobby-reception area with a resident-run café and gift shop, offering training opportunities and fostering social connection in a non-institutional, community-like setting.
– Healing outdoor spaces: Outdoor elements include fruit orchards, vegetable gardens, a labyrinth, basketball court, and quiet paths — all designed to provide daily contact with nature, encourage movement, and support healing. The gardens and orchards are tended by residents, offering opportunities for meaningful routine, and a sense of contribution and pride.
– Sensitive site design: The buildings were carefully clustered to preserve the existing landscape, minimize ground disturbance, and reflect the spirit of a small community. Newly planted native trees and shrubs enrich the natural setting, creating a village-like environment where the architecture is seamlessly nested within the island’s lush ecology.
– Discreet and dignified safety features: The campus uses natural surveillance and biometric access control to ensure security without fences, bars, or institutional signage — supporting residents’ dignity, autonomy, and mental well-being.
– Resilient, sustainable design: The project incorporates passive design strategies, permeable ground surfaces, rainwater harvesting, and hurricane-resistant construction, while maximizing daylight and natural ventilation in all spaces.
– Rooted in local culture and environment: The facility reflects the values of the Caymanian community, incorporating local stone, bright colours, and an emphasis on access to nature and culture. The name, Poinciana Rehabilitation Centre, was inspired by the vibrant local Poinciana tree, known for its red blossoms. A Poinciana tree has been planted on the grounds as a living emblem of healing, growth, and connection to place.

Dr. Lockhart, the Jamaican physician behind the project’s vision, saw the need for a more compassionate approach to mental health care — one that combines clinical treatment with community and nature. This innovative model fosters self-reliance, social skills, and emotional healing, setting a new standard for mental health treatment in the region.

Design: Montgomery Sisam Architects in association with DDL Studio
Photography: courtesy of Montgomery Sisam Architects