Michigan's new Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health features high-performance Wausau windows and Tubelite curtain wall

Opened in March 2026, the Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health offers children and families in Michigan lifechanging care and a path to recovery. The purpose-built, 136,000-square-foot facility is the first of its kind in Michigan, featuring the state’s first pediatric psychiatric urgent care center and specialty services that were previously unavailable to Michigan families. The newly constructed building demonstrates how Apogee Architectural Metals’ Wausau windows and Tubelite curtain wall support the comfortable, safe, therapeutic environment with a visually appealing, resilient, high-performance facade.

Set on a wooded 220-acre Grand Rapids campus, the new Pediatric Center expands inpatient care by 3,000 children annually and by 10,000 for outpatient care, while allowing for future expansion. As part of Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, it helps realize a broader effort to expand access to behavioral health services across Michigan and strengthen the continuum of care for children and families.

Supporting Pine Rest’s evidence-based approach and future-focused goals, BWBR designed the center with a guiding principle of “No Wrong Door,” creating multiple points of entry to ease the path to treatment for families. The dedicated healing space combines compassionate care and clinical excellence. Based on feedback from children and teens, the facility presents an approachable atmosphere with a playful, treehouse-themed environment inspired by the surrounding forest.

Upholding the architectural intention and specification, Vos Glass installed Wausau 4000i-DT Behavioral Care Windows and Tubelite 400T Series Curtain Wall to meet the project’s requirements for occupant safety, energy efficiency and long-term durability. Linetec, also part of Apogee Architectural Metals, provided thermal barriers and architectural finishing for both systems.

“A complex behavioral health facility designed for safety and healing, this project combined high-performance curtain wall, psychiatric windows and security glazing with rigorous testing and precision installation,” said John Turner, president of Vos Glass. “Through close collaboration and quality control, the team delivered a durable, light-filled building that will serve and support the community for decades.”

Vos Glass worked closely with general contractor EV Construction to meet the building team’s goals and schedule. The project broke ground in February 2024 and the entire project was completed in March 2026.

Pine Rest is the single largest freestanding behavioral health provider in Michigan and the second largest in the country with a 2,000-member staff of dedicated professionals plus Sully, a highly trained facility dog. The new pediatric center is located near the medical campus’ original 1910 hospital.

The pediatric center’s first floor hosts a 66 inpatient beds across three dedicated units, the Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center, the Ronald McDonald House Family Room, a cafeteria and chapel. The inpatient space includes a treatment mall which includes a gym, a kid-friendly dining room, a technology classroom and an art room. The second floor houses the Treetops Pediatric Clinic, which provides outpatient therapy and assessment, including specialty services for substance use, eating disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders. Additionally, the building’s second floor is home to the Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program and a specialty Eating Disorders Partial Hospitalization Program.

Envisioned by children, inspired nature
BWBR designed Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health around a natural concept developed directly from community and patient meetings. “The project’s design centers around the concept of a treehouse, an idea that originated in community and patient meetings to evoke the soothing and therapeutic aspects of nature. while expressing a playfulness that would appeal to children,” said BWBR’s principal and director, Melanie Baumhover, AIA, LEED AP.

The Wausau windows and Tubelite curtain wall installed by Vos Glass provide patients, staff and visitors with access to daylight and views of nature. Multiple outdoor spaces, including separate pocket parks, a private staff patio and secure courtyards for each inpatient unit, extend the biophilic design intent.

“Access to daylight, views of nature and biophilic design features help to promote well-being and reduce stress,” said BWBR’s senior interior designer, Amy Kotchevar, CID, IIDA, NCIDQ, EDAC. “These elements not only enhance the physical environment, but also reinforce a sense of agency, identity and comfort for patients – key components of emotional healing. By designing spaces that reflect care, empathy and respect, we move beyond simply managing risk and begin to support meaningful recovery.”

Safety first – protecting patients
BWBR’s Kotchevar also noted that product selection for behavioral care facilities is guided in part by standards such as the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYS-OMH) Patient Safety Standards. NYS-OMH uses Wausau DT Series windows and references them in its Patient Safety Standards, Materials and Systems Guidelines, developed in association with Architecture+.

“These standards inform our internal design guides and help our designers select products that have been rigorously vetted for behavioral health applications and risk levels,” said Kotchevar. “There are many ways we can integrate warmth and personalization into behavioral health environments, while maintaining safety and security.”

On the Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health, Vos Glass installed 66 Wausau 4000i-DT Behavioral Care Windows across the six inpatient units, each of which includes quiet rooms, sensory spaces, break rooms and exam rooms. These areas require fenestration systems that meet demanding safety standards without sacrificing the warm, welcoming environment that supports patient recovery.

Wausau 4000i-DT windows are AAMA AW-PG120 rated to the highest performance class and meet the AAMA 501.8 Standard Test Method for Determination of Resistance to Human Impact of Window Systems Intended for Use in Behavioral Care Applications, a Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) document.

To pass AAMA 501.8, windows are “drop tested” for interior human impacts up to 2,000 foot-pounds, simulating the shoulder impact of a 200-pound person moving at 25 feet per second. Exterior impact testing also demonstrates resistance to simulated human impact and thrown objects, such as in courtyards and exercise areas. Concealed hinges, tamper-resistant hardware and security-appropriate glazing options complete the safety profile.

Complex curtain wall, verified performance
For the Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health’s public, staff and outpatient areas, the exterior façade comprises Tubelite 400T Series Curtain Wall installed by Vos Glass. It encompasses three different aluminum framing depths – 6, 7 and 10 inches – along with segmented wall sections and clear spans reaching up to 27 feet 6 inches. In addition to the linear framing, circular curtain wall installations ranged from 4 to 6 feet in diameter. A custom cross-shaped window element serves as a distinctive architectural focal point within the chapel.

“The complex curtain wall geometry, curved elements and circular window features required careful planning and collaboration to ensure all architectural and performance requirements were met,” said Vos Glass’ Turner.

“Because of the specialized nature of the facility, strict quality control measures were implemented throughout the project,” continued Turner. “The exterior curtain wall systems underwent multiple phases of water and chamber testing beginning at the mock-up stage and continuing through construction, verifying both performance and installation quality before and during installation. These procedures ensured that the glazing systems met the required building envelope performance standards.”

Durable finishes, low-maintenance longevity
Complementing its visual appeal, safety, comfort and performance, Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health also prioritizes longevity and minimal ongoing maintenance in its project goals and product selections.

Durable, abrasion-resistant finishes make it easy to maintain the clean appearance and long-lasting functionality of the facility’s windows and curtain wall. As a single-source solution for both Wausau and Tubelite, Linetec provided finishing, thermal breaks and other value-added services – all under quality-assurance, factory-controlled conditions.

For the Pediatric Center, Linetec applied durable 70% fluoropolymer high-performance architectural painted finishes in a standard black color. These coating systems meet the industry’s highest performance specification, AAMA 2605.

As an environmentally responsible finisher, Linetec uses a 100% air capture system and a regenerative thermal oxidizer to safely contain and eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) associated with solvents in liquid paint. This process is carefully managed in the Linetec facility. This prevents adverse environmental impact and alleviates concerns about VOCs at the jobsite and after the finished material is installed on the building.

Coordinated, quality installation
Vos Glass managed a comprehensive glazing scope – exterior curtain wall, behavioral care windows and extensive interior security glazing – working through the winter of 2025 to meet the project schedule. Quality assurance was integrated throughout every phase.

To keep the overall project on schedule, Vos Glass coordinated guaranteed opening sizes for the behavioral care windows early in the construction sequence, enabling the windows to be manufactured in advance and patient rooms to be enclosed more quickly.

“Through this coordination and attention to quality, the project successfully delivered a secure, high-performing and visually striking glazing installation that supports the unique needs of the facility,” said Turner.

“This project involved the construction of a specialized behavioral health facility, where security, durability and performance were critical requirements for all glazing systems,” summarized Turner. “Vos Glass provided and installed a comprehensive scope of exterior and interior glazing, supporting both the architectural design intent and the specialized safety standards required for this type of healthcare environment.”

“This building will have a huge community impact,” emphasized Turner.

Transformative space, lifechanging work
Built in response to a growing pediatric mental health crisis, Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health seeks to have a lasting, positive community impact.

“Behavioral health challenges among children and teens have increased dramatically in recent years, and families across Michigan are struggling to find timely access to care,” said Mark Eastburg, Ph.D., president and CEO of Pine Rest. “By bringing together inpatient care, urgent psychiatric services and specialized programming in one location, we are helping ensure that children and families can get the support they need when they need it most.”

The Pediatric Psychiatric Urgent Care Center – the first of its kind in Michigan – provides same-day assessments and short-term stabilization for children experiencing acute behavioral health crises, helping families avoid unnecessary emergency department visits and connecting them more quickly with appropriate care.

“Healing goes beyond clinical care; it’s woven into every space,” says Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health’s website. “Every square inch of our facility is designed to help children feel safe, supported and empowered – and to ensure families feel cared for at every step.”

Pine Rest Pediatric Center of Behavioral Health; 300 68th St. SE, Building H, Grand Rapids, MI, 49548; https://www.pinerest.org/pediatric-center
* Owner: Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services; Grand Rapids, Michigan; https://www.pinerest.org
* Architect: BWBR; Minneapolis; https://www.bwbr.com
* General contractor: EV Construction; Holland, Michigan; https://ev.construction
* Glazing contractor: Vos Glass; Grand Rapids, Michigan; https://vosglass.com
* Manufacturer – curtain wall: Tubelite, a brand of Apogee Architectural Metals; Reed City, Michigan; https://apogeearchmetals.com
* Manufacturer – behavioral care windows: Wausau Windows, a brand of Apogee Architectural Metals; Wausau, Wisconsin; https://apogeearchmetals.com/products/4000i-dt-behavioral-care-window
* Aluminum framing and fenestration systems – finishing services: Linetec, a brand of Apogee Architectural Metals; Wausau, Wisconsin; https://linetec.com
* Photo credits: ©Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, courtesy of Vos Glass and Apogee Architectural Metals
* Construction videos: https://www.buildingpcbh.com/?wix-vod-comp-id=comp-ln9dm8lz

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