The RMH Group provided engineering services for a new 48,000-square-foot behavioral health and acute care facility in Aurora, Colorado, delivering a critical community resource for long-term treatment, detoxification, crisis stabilization, and inpatient mental health care.

Designed to support 61 patient beds across detox, crisis stabilization, and isolation units, the three-story facility also includes therapy spaces, nurse stations, behavioral health support areas, and clinical treatment environments. RMH developed an all-electric building design centered on a high-efficiency heat pump system and advanced building controls to reduce energy consumption while maintaining the stringent ventilation, comfort, and safety requirements of a healthcare facility. The team incorporated specialized behavioral health design considerations throughout the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including tamper-resistant fixtures, ligature-resistant components, and secure patient environments.

The facility achieved designation as an Xcel Energy Efficient Building by focusing on electrification, energy performance, and sustainable building operations. Working closely with the owner, architect, and contractor, RMH helped align the design with project budget objectives while maintaining performance, safety, and operational goals.

The project earned the 2026 CAHED Collaboration and Innovation Award in recognition of its integrated approach to behavioral healthcare delivery and facility design.

Originally a World War II munitions plant, Building 48 has been transformed into a LEED Gold-certified and SITES Silver-certified office for the Department of the Interior’s Interior Business Center.

The project involved converting a 1940s-era warehouse into a modern, energy-efficient workspace. RMH designed advanced mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that facilitated the building’s net-zero energy profile. A key feature was installing a Water Source Heat Pump (WSHP) system, which included perimeter single-zone units and additional units for interior zones and ventilation. This system capitalizes on Colorado’s dry climate through direct evaporative cooling, achieving a 75% reduction in energy consumption in shoulder seasons.

The electrical design focused on complete building electrification, incorporating three 240kW electric boilers that work with the WSHP. RMH kept the switchgear capacity below 4000A, creatively repurposing an old transformer for EV charging stations. A 200kW solar array on the roof and site solar at the Denver Federal Center supplied 100% renewable energy.

home

The RMH Group Has Joined SALAS O'Brein

For more than six decades, we’ve had the privilege of serving our communities, building lasting client relationships, and working alongside incredible employees and partners. Those connections have shaped who we are. As we join Salas O’Brien, we’re excited to build on that foundation with a team that shares our commitment to collaboration, innovation, and technical excellence.

Learn More About the Merger