Project Profile: Dani’s Place

Hplex Solutions Serves as Owner’s Representative for a Landmark Mental Health Healing Center

Hplex Solutions was deeply honored to serve as the Owner’s Representative for the development of Dani’s Place, a pioneering mental health rehabilitation center in northwest Ohio. This project was born from the profound loss and extraordinary love of Donna and Jeff Heck, who, after losing their daughter Danielle to suicide in 2019, dedicated themselves to creating a resource that was tragically absent for their own family.

Located in Toledo, Dani's Place provides a critical bridge in the care continuum, offering up to 90 days of housing and support for individuals transitioning from inpatient psychiatric care. It is a place of healing designed to reduce the risk of relapse and suicide by providing a safe, structured environment for recovery. This facility stands as a testament to what is possible when a community unites to address a critical need.

Hplex Solutions’ Role

As Owner’s Representative, Hplex Solutions provided dedicated leadership and project management to guide this vision from concept to reality. We facilitated collaboration between a passionate group of stakeholders to ensure the facility was built to serve its vital mission effectively.

Our role involved close partnership with:

The Heck Family

The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County

Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS)

NAMI Ohio

Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur
The project design and construction team

Hplex Solutions managed the intricate processes of planning, design oversight, and construction coordination. Our team ensured that the project remained on track while honoring the deeply personal mission at its core. We navigated the complexities of bringing a new type of healthcare facility to life, creating a space that is both functional for providers and healing for residents.

A Healing-Centered Design Approach

Unlike traditional clinical settings, Dani's Place was intentionally designed to foster peace, safety, and recovery. Every aspect of the facility was thoughtfully planned to create a supportive and non-institutional atmosphere. The design process was shaped by meaningful engagement with current patients at the Northwest Ohio Psychiatric Hospital campus, along with close collaboration with the dedicated professionals who provide their mental health care.

Key design strategies included:

Maximizing Natural Light: Large windows and open spaces were incorporated to create a bright, uplifting environment known to positively impact mental wellbeing.

Intentional Layouts: The facility's flow was designed to encourage calm and reduce stress, with comfortable common areas and private residential spaces that feel like home.

Focus on Safety and Comfort: Every detail, from the color palette to the furnishings, was chosen to create a sense of security and tranquility for residents during a vulnerable time.

This human-centered design approach ensures that the physical environment of Dani's Place actively contributes to the healing process, making it a true sanctuary for recovery.

**Project Outcome**

The opening of Dani’s Place marks a transformative step forward for mental healthcare in northwest Ohio and beyond. The facility directly addresses a dangerous gap in the system, where individuals leaving inpatient care are often discharged without adequate support, leading to higher risks of homelessness and suicide.

By providing a safe and therapeutic environment for up to 90 days, Dani’s Place offers the time, resources, and stability needed for individuals to successfully reintegrate into the community. It represents a promise that help and compassion are available when they are needed most.

Impact

Dani's Place is more than just a building; it is a replicable model for long-term mental health recovery that has the potential to inspire similar initiatives across the nation. It proves that with vision, collaboration, and dedicated project leadership, communities can create meaningful solutions to complex healthcare challenges.

At Hplex Solutions, we believe our work is about building healthier communities. We are profoundly grateful to the Heck family, the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Lucas County, OhioMHAS, and all project partners for allowing us to be a part of bringing this beacon of hope to life.

Project Profile: Dani’s Place

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