The Child Mind Institute Unveils the Center of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, New Headquarters in New York City

The new space doubles the Child Mind Institute’s footprint and was designed with children and families in mind, featuring donated artwork and dynamic spaces. 

Photos from the ceremony can be viewed here.

New York, NY – The Child Mind Institute, the leading independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children struggling with mental health and learning disorders, held a ribbon cutting ceremony today celebrating the opening of the organization’s Center of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.  Children’s mental health experts, policy leaders, and advocates gathered in the new 82,000-square-foot headquarters to celebrate the opening and discuss the ongoing global youth mental health crisis as well as innovative approaches to solutions. Pastor Cathy Gilliard, Rabbi David Gelfand, and Bishop Edmund Whalen delivered blessings. Former NBC News Correspondent Cynthia McFadden served as the event’s master of ceremonies.

“Unfortunately our kids are not okay and they’re struggling more than ever. We still have one in five children and teenagers who have a mental health disorder,” said Harold S. Koplewicz, MD, president and medical director of the Child Mind Institute. “The good news is that America is recognizing that the most common disorders of childhood and adolescents are not diabetes, asthma or cancer, but mental health disorders.” 

“We’ve made mental health care too hard to access for too long, which is why I’m very glad to be here,” said Ashwin Vasan, MD, commissioner of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “Not only are we making mental health care more accessible through Child Mind, but Child Mind has been a great partner to the city of New York and many places throughout the country and in the world.” 

Bob Moon, deputy commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, attended the event and delivered a Special Citation on behalf of Governor Kathy Hochul for the organization’s commitment to the wellness of young people. 

The new Center of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Mental Health brings together the organization’s care, education, and science programs, which include more than 130 clinical staff, 114 researchers, and 40 staff working in professional training and parent education.
The new center will serve as a base for convening mental health experts from around the world and will house the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.  

​​The new Center of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, a five-story “building within a building,” was designed by architect Lee Skolnick, of Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership, to be welcoming for all children and families. The building, which doubles the 15-year-old organization’s footprint, will accommodate growth and improved opportunities for collaboration and innovation, helping the Child Mind Institute continue to rise to the challenge of the current crisis in children’s mental health. 

The building features donated artwork from renowned artists, including: Michelle Samour, Adam Sultan, Kenny Scharf, Sol LeWitt Foundation, April Gornick, Eliot Greenwald, Michele Simonetti, Sally Gall, Michal Rovner, Alice Aycock, KAWS, Vaughn Spann, Dustin Yellin, Willie Cole, Bryan Hunt and Pat Steir.

The Center of Excellence in Child and Adolescent Mental Health is located in New York City at 215 East 50th Street, which is within The Durst Organization’s 825 Third Avenue tower. 825 Third Avenue recently underwent a $150 million renovation emphasizing performance, tenant comfort, modern aesthetics, amenities, and sustainability.

Photos from the ceremony can be viewed here.

ABOUT THE CHILD MIND INSTITUTE 

We are the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing open science initiatives and tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.

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For press questions, contact our press team at childmindinstitute@ssmandl.com or our media officer at mediaoffice@childmind.org.

ABOUT SKOLNICK ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN PARTNERSHIP

Based in New York City and the Hamptons, SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership is an award-winning, multidisciplinary design studio specializing in architecture, exhibit design, interpretation, master planning, and communication design. The firm’s mission is to unearth the compelling story behind every project to enrich the lives of their clients and communities. SKOLNICK believes that the ideal architectural experience tells a story, taking a person on a journey, expressing ideas, eliciting emotions, and revealing knowledge. Founded in 1980, SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership has been at the nexus of contemporary thinking about how we live, where we live, and ways to create play, home, and work environments that speak to the creative, functional, and aspirational needs of their clients. In addition to their broad list of award-winning residential projects, cultural and corporate projects, SKOLNICK has crafted healthcare facilities including the following: Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, New York City, the transformative Pirogov Children’s Hospital in Sofia, Bulgaria, the Ezra Abraham to Life Foundation Activity Room at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York City and the Autism Spectrum Disorder Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Learn more at www.skolnick.com.

For inquiries – mail@skolnick.com