August 28, 2025
We were thrilled to attend the grand opening of the ORCA Center! SMR Architects partnered with DESC on this meaningful project, the remodel of the second floor of the Morrison Hotel at 515 Third Avenue. The space, which previously served as an overnight shelter before closing during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been transformed through thoughtful interior rehabilitation work, with minimal exterior changes and construction completed while the ground floor and upper five floors remained occupied.
The new ORCA (Opioid Recovery & Care Access) Center is a 24/7 facility within DESC’s Downtown Behavioral Health Clinic that provides immediate, no-barrier treatment for people recovering from opioid overdoses or seeking help with opioid use disorder. With only 1 in 4 people who need medications like buprenorphine or methadone currently receiving them, the ORCA Center fills a critical gap by offering walk-in services, medication-assisted treatment, peer support, and connections to housing and longer-term care. The facility can stabilize up to eight people at a time and features exam rooms, consultation spaces, and medical labs, along with administrative offices, a day shelter, and a hygiene center.
