Restorative Campus Supports Recovery with Nature-Based Healing

Dani’s Place is a residential mental health rehabilitation facility in Toledo, Ohio. Created to fill a critical gap in care for adults, the project provides a supportive setting where residents can continue their recovery before transitioning back into their communities. The project is commemorated in the legacy of Danielle Leedy, whose battle and dream of providing a place of healing and connection for others inspired her family and community.

The site is designed around the central idea that environment plays a vital role in recovery. By immersing residents in nature, the landscape plays an active role in restoring balance, grounding daily routines, and building a sense of belonging.

The experience begins at arrival, where a simple drop-off and entry create a clear and welcoming transition into the facility. Inside, communal living and dining rooms surround an interior courtyard, providing protected access to the outdoors and infusing shared spaces with sunlight.

The site provides outdoor spaces that encourage community building and physical activity. An outdoor plaza provides space for residents to share meals, play games, or simply spend time outside, while walking paths connect the building to naturalized landscape areas. Trees and layered plantings provide shade and a degree of privacy, creating a comfortable outdoor environment for residents. Wildflower areas and bioretention plantings add seasonal interest while contributing to the ecological function of the site.

Together, these spaces create a landscape that extends the residential environment beyond the building and provides opportunities for residents to connect with nature, one another, and their surroundings. The landscape is intentionally integrated into the daily experience of Dani’s Place, creating a setting that is welcoming, connected, and supportive of the transition toward independent living.