Town of Gilbert
60,000 SF
DBB
Prime Architect
Est. Fall 2026
Project Director
Project Manager
Project Architect
Interior Designer
The Gilbert Advocacy Center will be the town’s first facility dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other interpersonal crimes. This centralized resource will bring together police investigators, victim advocates, counselors, medical professionals, and support services under one roof, creating a collaborative model of care that streamlines access to critical services for individuals and families in crisis.
The center is designed in collaboration with Trauma-Informed Design (TID) specialist Dak Kopec, Ph.D., Trauma-Informed Design (TID) is an empathetic approach that goes beyond functionality to create environments that promote healing, reduce stress, and foster a sense of safety and belonging. While rooted in supporting those who have experienced trauma, TID benefits everyone by shaping spaces that feel inclusive, comforting, and accessible. By embedding these principles throughout the Gilbert Advocacy Center, the facility sets a new standard for survivor-focused environments that minimize triggers and empower individuals to reclaim their futures.
Want to know more about Trauma-Informed Design? See our recent articles:
Trauma-Informed Design and Its Influence on the Built Environment
Unlearning What We Know When Applying Trauma-Informed Design and the SPACe Model
Trauma-Informed Design in Practice: A Purpose-Driven Success for the Gilbert Advocacy Center
The Gilbert Advocacy Center is the Town of Gilbert’s first facility dedicated to supporting survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, human trafficking, and other interpersonal crimes. This 60,000 SF facility is designed as a centralized resource that brings police investigators, victim advocates, counselors, medical professionals, and support services together in one location, making it easier for individuals and families in crisis to access the help they need without navigating multiple agencies.
Trauma-Informed Design (TID) is an approach to architecture that goes beyond function to create environments that actively support healing, reduce stress, and promote a sense of safety and belonging. The Gilbert Advocacy Center was developed in collaboration with TID specialist Dak Kopec, Ph.D., and its principles are embedded throughout the building, from spatial layout and material choices to lighting and wayfinding. The goal is to minimize triggers and create spaces where people feel empowered rather than vulnerable.
The Gilbert Advocacy Center is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2026.
Prior to this facility, survivors in Gilbert had to access services through multiple agencies in different locations — a significant barrier during an already difficult time. By centralizing services and designing the environment with trauma-informed principles, the center lowers those barriers and creates a more cohesive, compassionate experience for people seeking help. It also enables the professionals serving those survivors to collaborate more effectively.
DFDG Architecture used project-specific planning strategies to support Gilbert Advocacy Center’s operations, users, and long-term performance. Unlike a standard municipal building, the Gilbert Advocacy Center was designed from the outset around the needs of people in crisis. Every spatial decision, from how entrances are positioned to how light enters interview rooms, reflects a deliberate effort to reduce stress and reinforce a sense of safety and control. Durable, calming materials, careful acoustic separation between service areas, and trauma-informed wayfinding are embedded throughout, making the experience of accessing services as low-barrier and supportive as possible.
DFDG Architecture designed the Gilbert Advocacy Center for the Town of Gilbert. The project is one of Arizona’s most visible examples of a ground-up, trauma-informed design facility.