ORCA Center

SMR Architects renovated the Morrison Hotel's second floor into DESC's ORCA Center, a 24/7 no-barrier facility providing immediate opioid treatment, peer support, and stabilization services for up to eight people.

Client

DESC

Location

Seattle, WA

Program

SMR Architects worked with DESC on the remodel of the second floor of the Morrison Hotel, located at 515 Third Avenue. The space was previously an overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness but had been closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rehabilitation project consisted mostly of interior work with minimal exterior changes, while the ground floor and upper five floors remained occupied throughout construction. 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. The center addresses a critical gap in care, only 1 in 4 people who need medications like buprenorphine or methadone actually receive them, by offering walk-in services, medication-assisted treatment, peer support, and connections to housing and longer term care. The ORCA Center can stabilize up to eight people at a time and includes exam rooms, consultation spaces, and medical labs. This renovation project also included administrative offices, a day shelter, and hygiene center. The project was funded through partnerships with the City of Seattle, King County, Washington State, and private donors, with research support from the University of Washington to track its effectiveness.