Renovating a Historic Orchard Mesa Home for Community Healing
At Fixture Studio, we’ve had the privilege of working on many meaningful projects throughout the Grand Valley. Few, however, have resonated with us quite like our partnership with the Counseling & Education Center (CEC), a nonprofit serving Mesa County. CEC provides professional counseling services that are affordable and accessible for all, regardless of income or insurance.
Since 2023, we have been leading the renovation of a historic Orchard Mesa home built in 1908. When complete, it will become CEC’s second counseling center. This project is not simply about construction. It is about creating a space where healing can happen, where families can find support, and where an underserved community can access professional mental health care close to home.
Why This Project Matters
For more than 40 years, the Counseling & Education Center has quietly served the Grand Valley. Founded by two Catholic Sisters, CEC was built on the belief that everyone deserves access to professional therapy, regardless of income or insurance. That mission continues to guide their work today.
CEC’s licensed therapists now provide counseling services to approximately 500 adults, teens, children, and families each year. Many of these clients come from low-income households. Care is available through Medicaid, Medicare, private insurance, or an income-based sliding scale, with sessions offered for as little as $15.
The demand for accessible mental health care has increased significantly in recent years, especially in Orchard Mesa. This community of more than 7,000 residents currently has no local behavioral health services. For many families, traveling across town for therapy is not realistic.
Children and families feel this gap most deeply. School counselors report overwhelming demand for mental health support, far beyond what existing resources can meet.
Our Vision for the Space
We are transforming this 5,235-square-foot historic residence into a welcoming counseling center. The space will include 10 private therapy rooms, three of which are dedicated play therapy rooms for children.
Our design approach centers on comfort and familiarity. We want the space to feel more like entering a trusted friend’s home than a clinical environment. Warm lighting, comfortable seating, and calming artwork will help clients feel at ease. Healing happens best in spaces that feel human, safe, and grounded.
The location supports this mission. The site sits within 1.5 miles of three area schools and along the Grand Valley Transit route. This makes the center accessible to families throughout Orchard Mesa, Whitewater, and Delta. When the center opens in mid-2026, it will serve more than 300 additional clients each year, including 80–100 children and adolescents. It will also function as a neighborhood resource hub, connecting residents with additional health and social services.
How You Can Help
Thanks to generous community support, the Orchard Mesa Expansion Project is 75% funded. CEC is now working to close the remaining 25 percent. These funds will support final capital improvements and allow the building to be furnished with care and intention.
Supporting this project offers real help to families in need. It gives parents support during difficult moments and helps children develop tools to heal from trauma. Most importantly, it brings professional mental health care to neighbors who might otherwise go without.
We invite you to learn more and support CEC’s work by visiting CEC We Care.
Together, we are not just renovating a building. We are creating a place of care, stability, and hope for an entire community.
