$28M Crisis Receiving Center in Cleveland Needs 7 Low Voltage Systems

$28 million behavioral health crisis receiving center in Cleveland requires 7 low voltage systems, creating an estimated $2.3 million opportunity for contractors in the Ohio market.

Project Overview

A former three-story medical office building on the St. Vincent Charity Medical Center campus in Cleveland's Central neighborhood is being transformed into Cuyahoga County's first dedicated behavioral health crisis receiving center. Located at 2322 E. 22nd Street, the $28 million project represents one of the most significant behavioral health infrastructure investments in Northeast Ohio's recent history.

Construction has been underway since February 2025, with the facility slated to open in fall 2026. The project involves a complete interior renovation and systems overhaul of the existing structure, converting clinical office space into a multi-level crisis care facility. The first floor will function as a walk-in behavioral urgent care center, designed with an intake area furnished with chairs instead of beds to move away from the traditional emergency room environment. Upper floors will house psychiatric urgent care for children and adults, detox units, mental health recovery beds, and both inpatient and outpatient care areas, along with an on-site pharmacy.

Once operational, the crisis receiving center is expected to serve approximately 12,000 adults per year with urgent mental health and substance abuse care. The facility is designed to function as the front door to Cuyahoga County's behavioral health system, diverting patients from overburdened hospital emergency departments and connecting them directly with appropriate treatment resources.

Permit records filed with the City of Cleveland indicate active construction activity at the site, including significant site work for utilities infrastructure. The scope of the building conversion demands a complete low voltage systems buildout to support the specialized healthcare environment.

Project	Behavioral Health Crisis Receiving Center
Location	2322 E 22nd St, Cleveland, OH 44115
Total Value	$28 million
Project Type	Healthcare / Behavioral Health
Status	Under Construction (opens fall 2026)
LV Score	10/10
Source	Cleveland Building Permits

Key Players

This project is the result of a multi-party partnership between healthcare organizations and government entities, each contributing funding and operational expertise to bring the crisis center to fruition.

Role	Organization	Details
Owner / Operator	The Centers	Cleveland-based nonprofit behavioral health organization. Purchased the former St. Vincent Charity medical office building and will operate the crisis receiving center as its new headquarters campus.
Funding Partner	ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County	Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board providing $9.3 million in funding, including $6.8 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars from Ohio DMHAS and $2.5 million in board funds.
Funding Partner	Cuyahoga County	County government contributing $7 million to the project to support the behavioral health infrastructure buildout.
Campus Origin	Sisters of Charity Health System	Former operator of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, whose campus now serves as the site for the crisis center conversion.

Low Voltage Systems Breakdown

With seven distinct low voltage systems required, this project spans every major LV discipline: life safety, security, data infrastructure, wireless communications, and audiovisual. The behavioral health use case adds complexity layers that standard commercial renovations do not encounter, including tamper-resistant hardware, ligature-resistant device specifications, and heightened monitoring requirements throughout the facility.

System	Category	Scope Description	Complexity
Fire Alarm	Life Safety	Complete fire alarm system for a three-story healthcare occupancy. Requires addressable devices on every floor, integration with the building's HVAC smoke control systems, and coordination with the Authority Having Jurisdiction for healthcare-specific code compliance under NFPA 72. The behavioral health environment requires tamper-resistant pull stations and notification appliances in patient areas.	High
Nurse Call	Life Safety	Crisis receiving center nurse call infrastructure across all patient care areas including the urgent care floor, detox units, and recovery beds. Requires staff duress buttons in high-risk areas, patient call stations designed for behavioral health environments, and integration with staff communication systems. Anti-ligature hardware specifications are critical throughout patient-accessible zones.	High
Access Control	Security	Multi-zone access control system managing secured entry points between public intake areas, restricted treatment zones, staff-only areas, and the pharmacy. Behavioral health facilities require sophisticated zoning to prevent patient elopement while maintaining rapid emergency egress. Card reader and electronic lock hardware must meet anti-ligature standards in patient areas.	High
CCTV / Video Surveillance	Security	Comprehensive video surveillance covering intake areas, corridors, common spaces, exterior perimeters, and parking areas. Behavioral health crisis centers require continuous monitoring with minimal blind spots for patient safety. Camera housings must be tamper-resistant and ligature-resistant in patient areas. NVR/VMS system sized for multi-floor, 24/7 recording with video analytics.	High
Structured Cabling	Data/Voice	Complete Cat6A copper and fiber backbone infrastructure supporting all networked systems across three floors. Includes MDF/IDF buildout, horizontal cabling to every workstation, nurse station, and device location, plus wireless access point drops. Must support the converged IP network carrying nurse call, access control, CCTV, and clinical applications simultaneously.	Medium
DAS (Distributed Antenna System)	Wireless	Distributed Antenna System to ensure reliable cellular coverage throughout the three-story building. Critical for first responder communications during crisis situations and for staff mobile connectivity. The existing medical office building's concrete and steel construction typically attenuates cellular signals, making DAS essential for a facility handling emergency behavioral health responses around the clock.	High
Audio/Visual	AV	AV systems for group therapy rooms, staff training spaces, and administrative conference areas. Includes display mounting, audio reinforcement, and telehealth video conferencing infrastructure for remote psychiatric consultations. Digital signage for wayfinding in public intake areas and waiting rooms.	Medium

Estimated Low Voltage Value

With no low voltage contract value specified in project records, the estimated LV value is calculated using industry benchmarks for healthcare construction. Behavioral health facilities fall within the hospital/medical category, with a recommended midpoint of 6.5% of total project value allocated to low voltage systems. The presence of seven integrated systems triggers a 1.25x system count multiplier, reflecting the additional coordination complexity and shared infrastructure requirements.

Total Project Value	$28,000,000
Estimated LV Percentage	6.5%
System Count Multiplier	1.25x (7 systems)
Estimated LV Contract Value	$2,275,000

At approximately $2.3 million, this represents a substantial LV contract opportunity by Northeast Ohio standards. The behavioral health specialization adds complexity that may push the actual value toward the higher end of the estimation range. Contractors should expect that anti-ligature and tamper-resistant hardware specifications will carry premium pricing compared to standard healthcare installations.

A rough breakdown by major system suggests Structured Cabling at approximately $570,000, Fire Alarm at $455,000, DAS at $340,000, Access Control and CCTV each around $275,000, Nurse Call at $230,000, and AV at $130,000. These figures are estimates based on typical healthcare LV budget allocations, and actual contract values will vary based on final specifications and local market conditions.

Skills and Certifications Required

This project's seven LV systems demand a workforce with certifications spanning life safety, security, data, wireless, and AV disciplines. The behavioral health environment adds a specialized layer that contractors should not underestimate when assembling their teams.

System	Key Certifications	Critical Skills
Fire Alarm	NICET Level II+, Ohio Fire Alarm License	NFPA 72 compliance, SLC/NAC wiring, AHJ coordination, healthcare occupancy codes
Nurse Call	Manufacturer certs (Hill-Rom, Rauland, Jeron)	Healthcare protocols, anti-ligature hardware, staff duress systems, ADA compliance
Access Control	PSP (ASIS), Manufacturer (Genetec, Lenel, HID)	Multi-zone design, elopement prevention, IP networking, credential management
CCTV	Manufacturer (Axis, Avigilon, Milestone)	Behavioral health camera placement, tamper-resistant housings, VMS configuration
Structured Cabling	BICSI INST2, RCDD (design)	Cat6A termination, fiber splicing, Fluke certification, MDF/IDF buildout
DAS	BICSI RCDD, RF engineering background	Antenna placement, carrier coordination, signal testing, FCC compliance
AV	CTS (AVIXA), CTS-I	Display mounting, telehealth infrastructure, DSP programming, digital signage

Entry-level technicians with BICSI Installer 1 or NICET Level I certifications can contribute to cable pulling, device mounting, and basic terminations across the structured cabling and fire alarm scopes. Mid-level technicians with NICET Level II, BICSI INSTC, or manufacturer-specific certifications will handle system wiring, device programming, and testing. The project will require at least one RCDD for design oversight, a NICET Level III or higher for fire alarm system engineering, and technicians with behavioral health facility experience for the nurse call and security systems.

Contractors should verify their Ohio low voltage contractor license is current. Ohio enforces licensing requirements for fire alarm and security system installation at the state level, and the behavioral health designation may trigger additional inspection and compliance requirements beyond standard commercial projects.

Market Signal

Cleveland's behavioral health infrastructure is undergoing a significant transformation, and this crisis receiving center is at the forefront. The $28 million investment, funded through a combination of American Rescue Plan Act dollars, county funds, and ADAMHS Board allocations, reflects a broader national trend of purpose-built behavioral health facilities replacing the traditional model of routing mental health crises through hospital emergency departments.

For low voltage contractors in Northeast Ohio, this project signals a growing niche with staying power. Behavioral health facilities require specialized system design that commands premium pricing: anti-ligature hardware, tamper-resistant devices, sophisticated access control zoning for patient safety, and robust nurse call systems with staff duress capabilities. Contractors who develop expertise in behavioral health facility construction will be positioned to capture similar projects as other counties and health systems across Ohio and the Midwest follow Cuyahoga County's lead in building dedicated crisis infrastructure.

The project also reinforces Cleveland's position as a healthcare construction hub. With major health systems like Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and MetroHealth continuously investing in facility upgrades and expansions, the region offers sustained demand for LV contractors with healthcare experience. The crisis center's location in the Central neighborhood, on the former St. Vincent Charity campus, adds momentum to the ongoing revitalization of this part of the city and may spur additional development in the surrounding area.

Nationally, the behavioral health construction pipeline is expanding as federal funding from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and state-level mental health investments create new facility projects. Contractors who build a track record on projects like this Cleveland crisis center will have a competitive advantage as more communities invest in similar facilities.

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