Guided by the mission to improve the lives of those impacted by sexual abuse and assault, as well as to prevent sexual violence, the Metropolitan Organization Countering Sexual Assault (MOCSA) needed a new space to serve as an accessible, survivor-centric, and trauma-informed space. Trauma-informed design across architecture, interior design, and graphic design shaped every decision in MOCSA’s new home
As a former data center sitting two-thirds below grade, the original building provided little natural light or connection with nature. A 1,200-square-foot skylight at the building’s center, paired with northern glazing, bounces natural light deep into the interior.
Contributing to a safe, comfortable environment, high-STC demountable walls, plenum barriers beneath raised access flooring, high-performing acoustic ceilings, frosted office glazing, and acoustic wall coverings in therapy spaces work together to keep conversations private. Dimmable light fixtures, task lamps, and warm-temperature LEDs create a feel closer to home than a sterile clinic.
Built on predictability and coherence, rounded ceiling corners mark transitions and wood bump-outs consistently flag door locations throughout the building. A restrained palette of warm woods, white paint, and calming blue accents anchors the art-forward wayfinding system and draws the eye toward clear signage.
In therapy rooms and offices, control is returned to the people who need it most. To quietly support the psychological and physiological needs of people who have experienced trauma, furniture is movable, lighting is adjustable, and therapy rooms are configured to fit the different types of sessions provided, like art therapy, sand tray work, and play therapy. The new space also includes a yoga room, allowing MOCSA to provide free trauma-informed yoga designed specifically for survivors of sexual abuse and assault.
More than doubling MOCSA’s physical capacity, the new space can adequately serve the six-county metro area of Kansas and Missouri.