Rising Leaders on Building the Future of Behavioral Health Construction

When Project Manager Clayton Wilcox and Project Engineer Juan Sanchez stepped onto the jobsite for the Alliance Healthcare Services Crisis Wellness Center, they knew they weren’t just building a facility – they were helping to make a difference for members of their community in need of support.

Located in the Memphis neighborhood of Binghampton, the project expanded Alliance’s capacity for mental health services, including crisis assessment, inpatient care, and therapy programs. The two-story facility includes an emergency entrance, outpatient clinic space, administrative offices, 15 crisis-stabilization unit (CSU) patient rooms, support areas, and associated site work. CSU patients also have access to a secure rooftop courtyard for outdoor activities, reinforcing the project’s focus on safety, dignity, and healing.

For Clayton and Juan, it became a defining experience that blended technical complexity with personal meaning.

“I’ve been a part of many jobs here in Memphis,” Juan said, “But this one is in a much-needed area. I'm fortunate to be a part of building our city.”

Passion meets precision

Behavioral health construction comes with unique challenges, something Juan learned firsthand. “You’re not going to see your typical door handles, faucets, or lights,” he explained. “We had to understand the ‘why’ behind every design choice. There was a lot of coordination and intricacy in planning and installing those details.”

The work was technical, but it was also driven by a shared sense of purpose. “AHS leadership was passionate about the building,” Juan commented. “They projected that onto us. It inspired me to give them the quality they’d been dreaming of and working toward for years.”

Clayton felt that same energy. “They were passionate about their building, and about the fact that this is a blueprint for mental health facilities around the country,” he reflected. “To be the ones to deliver that felt special.”

Living out Turner’s values

For both men, the project was an opportunity to embody Turner’s core values of integrity, teamwork, and commitment.

“Integrity is everything to me,” Clayton said. “If a client is paying us to do a job, they’re expecting honesty, integrity, and commitment. Sometimes we take on challenges that aren’t technically our responsibility because it’s the right thing to do.”

Juan agreed, adding, “Doing the right thing is what I’m about. Building it correctly, doing it with quality – that’s how we maintain the reputation that Turner has established over the past hundred years.”

Commitment, they both said, is about passion as much as performance. “Some days were long,” Clayton reflected, “but I love my job. It’s hard, but it’s fun.” 

Juan echoed that sentiment, saying, “Sometimes it feels like a passion instead of a job. The months and years go by quickly because I love what I do.”

Both Clayton and Juan point to the Alliance project team as a key reason for the Center’s success. “I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” Clayton said. “Everyone held themselves accountable. The trust was so strong, I never lost sleep over whether someone would do their job.”

Juan added, “Everyone knew their role, trusted each other, and had full confidence in each other. That was a huge factor in the project’s success.”

Building for impact

The Alliance Healthcare Services Crisis Wellness Center was intentionally designed to feel more like a place of healing than a clinical institution. Warm finishes, calming lighting, and thoughtful material selections create an environment that welcomes rather than intimidates, which is especially critical for patients in crisis.

Clayton noted that the building was designed as “a warm, and welcoming place,” an atmosphere that he believes aligns well with Alliance’s mission. He added that those choices reflect “walking the walk and talking the talk” – creating a space where patients feel safe, supported, and respected.

The facility features spacious observation rooms with clear sightlines for staff, controlled outdoor spaces on both a patio and rooftop courtyard, and a covered drop-off area for arrivals with family or loved ones. Since opening, it has expanded Alliance’s capacity from 27 to 45 beds and reduced emergency incidents and medication reliance.

“The owner knows this building will amplify what they’re doing,” Clayton said. “Seeing that belief was inspiring.”

A lasting legacy

Looking back, Juan and Clayton see the project as a milestone both for their careers and for the community. “Turner leadership does a great job of seeing potential in young professionals,” Juan explained. “I’ve learned a lot about myself, both personally and professionally, that I didn't think I was capable of.”

Clayton agreed, saying, “We all worked hard, but we didn’t overdo it. That philosophy of active caring – it works and it matters, if you do it right.”

The Alliance Healthcare Services Crisis Wellness Center is a place where design, craftsmanship, and compassion come together to change lives. For Memphis, the result is a facility that will serve thousands of individuals and families for years to come.