LVHN Hanover Hill Behavioral Health

the project

An array of products were installed, including Door + Wall Protection, and Washroom Systems

The Story:

LVHN Hanover Hill Behavioral Health Supports Patient-Centered Design With Durable Interior Protection

When Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), part of Jefferson Health, and Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) expanded behavioral health services across eastern Pennsylvania, the joint venture partnership set out to create environments that balance safety, durability and patient comfort. The result is Hanover Hill Behavioral Health in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: a 144-bed facility serving seniors, adults and adolescents. Designed to support patients across varying levels of care, the facility combines evidence-based planning with interiors that promote dignity and calmness and provide consistent performance over time.

Designing for high-impact use in behavioral health settings

Behavioral health environments face unique design pressures. Surfaces must withstand rigorous cleaning protocols and intensive daily use, all while creating environments that promote wellness and healing. At the same time, design teams are increasingly tasked with aligning material selections with long-term operational and sustainability goals.

In this context, durability was more than a maintenance concern for LVHN. Repeated repairs and repainting would disrupt care environments and lifecycle costs. Specifying resilient materials helped reduce potential for interruptions while preserving a consistent, high-quality care environment.

Interior protection solutions built for demanding environments

To address these demands, the project team aimed to create a hospitality-inspired setting that helps patients feel at home in a welcoming environment. UHS Design & Construction partnered with Inpro and Stengel Hill to design these spaces with durable materials that support a calm, healing interior.

In high-use corridors and shared areas, Palladium® Rigid Sheet Wall Protection, corner guards and the 1000BH Handrail, designed specifically for behavioral health systems, reinforce walls against damage. These targeted solutions strengthen high-contact zones while maintaining a cohesive design language.

Across larger wall areas, Ricochet® Wall Protection provides a smooth, continuous finish with resistance to staining and chemical exposure, helping surfaces retain a clean, consistent appearance under heavy use.

In patient-support spaces such as washrooms, Prism™ Solid Surface Sheet with batten strips in White Sand supports hygienic, easy-to-clean conditions. Meanwhile, Aspex® Printed Wall Protection introduces nature-inspired imagery in key areas, reinforcing a sense of calm and familiarity without sacrificing durability or cleanability.

Supporting long-term performance and maintenance efficiency

At Hanover Hill, these integrated solutions help preserve interior conditions in a setting where surfaces are subject to ongoing wear. Compared to traditional painted drywall, durable wall protection systems can extend surface life and reduce repainting cycles, helping minimize maintenance disruptions and associated labor costs. That performance is supported by verifiable documentation, including:

Palladium® Rigid Sheet Wall Protection: 30.4 ft-lbs/in. impact strength (ASTM D-256); third-party EPD and HPD.
Corner guards: 30.2 ft-lbs/in. impact strength (ASTM D-256); backed by their own EPD and low-emitting G2 PVC-free options.
1000BH Handrail: 30.2 ft-lbs/in. impact strength (ASTM D-256), uPVC construction; backed by its own EPD and low-emitting G2 PVC-free options.
Ricochet® Wall Protection: Resists staining and chemical exposure; third-party EPD and HPD.
Prism™ Solid Surface Sheet: GREENGUARD certified for low emissions (Children & Schools; California Section 01350).
Aspex® Printed Wall Protection: GREENGUARD Certified (low-emitting) and 66.13 ft-lbs impact (ASTM F476-84); third-party EPD and HPD.

Enabling consistent, patient-centered environments

For healthcare systems, long-term material performance drives both operational efficiency and patient experience. At Hanover Hill, durable interior protection helped create a setting that supports caregivers and patients alike by reducing repairs, sustaining consistent condition and balancing the demands of behavioral healthcare with comfort, longevity and reliability.