McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. and HOK Break Ground on $145M Kedren Children’s Village

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy) one of the largest and most diversified construction companies in America for over 160 years and HOK, a global architecture firm and leader in healthcare design, today announced the groundbreaking of Kedren Children’s Village for Kedren Community Health Center Inc. in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. When complete, the $145M Kedren Children’s Village will be one of the few pediatric-focused behavioral hospitals in the country, and the first comprehensive behavioral health facility in South Los Angeles, providing much-needed community health care services for years to come. Together, McCarthy and HOK make up the design-build team leveraging their expertise to deliver a modern, efficient, and patient-centered facility tailored to the unique needs of children requiring behavioral health services. 

The 103,000 square-foot campus will include three main buildings – an inpatient psychiatric facility, outpatient services including primary, urgent care and pharmacy services, and a transitional housing development. The 24-unit transitional housing development is intended for families of patients receiving care, along with homeless families or individuals served by Kedren’s mental health programs and community outreach in need of temporary accommodations.  

Along with the main structures, the campus will feature a parking structure to address the lack of parking in the project’s location within a residential neighborhood. A physical therapy gym and an outdoor garden will provide therapeutic and recreational areas for patients to enjoy outside their treatment centers. Few facilities exist in the U.S. that provide comprehensive, integrated physical and mental health care in one facility, especially with a pediatric focus. Furthering its mission as a community builder, McCarthy Building Cos. and HOK seek to build up the greater Los Angeles community with an accessible, safe and modern pediatric-focused health facility. 

The design for Kedren Children’s Village is guided by evidence-based best practices in pediatric behavioral health, prioritizing safety, flexibility, and therapeutic environments and inspired by the history and culture of the surrounding community. Drawing on the diversity and warmth of the Watts community, the exterior façade and interior design is based on a quilt representing the people and families that will receive services through Kedren in materiality and form.

“This project represents a forward-thinking approach to pediatric behavioral health care,” said Adaeze Cadet, Design Principal at HOK. “Our goal is to create a facility that not only meets the clinical needs of patients but also fosters a sense of dignity, comfort, and community connection. By incorporating best practices in behavioral health and pediatric design, we are setting a new standard for care environments.” 

“McCarthy is committed to building medical facilities equipped to provide the highest standard of patient care and services,” said Eric Halverson, project director at McCarthy. “With a long history of successful health care projects in California, we are pleased to use our expertise to improve mental health services in Los Angeles County.”  

McCarthy's design-build services include self-perform concrete, utility and drywall installation, McCarthy Mapping, parking solutions and landscape design. Uniquely, McCarthy will provide its EQUIP service, an integrated health care build approach that includes equipment planning services coordinated from beginning to end, effectively reducing delays and costs down the project lifespan due to equipment alterations.  

Coordinating construction logistics in the Watts residential neighborhood provides unique project challenges, including building within a relatively small site footprint, managing proximity to active railroad tracks, and minimizing noise and traffic disturbances for the local community.  

“Since its founding nearly 60 years ago, Kedren has been committed to eliminating health disparities in South Los Angeles by creating access to care” said Kedren CEO Gregory Polk. “The Children’s Village will be the first of its kind in the nation, providing a full continuum of mental health care for children and youth on one campus. We are looking forward to providing these needed and valuable resources for our community.” 

McCarthy and HOK are proud to team up on this project that will positively impact the lives of children and their families. The design-build partnership between McCarthy and HOK on the project is a continuation of their strong relationship, having worked together on other behavioral health design build projects including the in-progress UCLA Health Neuropsychiatric Hospital Project. Estimated completion of the Kedren Children's Village is in summer 2027. 

About McCarthy Building Companies 

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc (McCarthy) is the oldest privately held national construction company in America. With more than 160 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients, McCarthy is committed to delivering superior results and creating great experiences for everyone. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program in all phases of the project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 17th largest domestic builder (Engineering News- Record, May 2024). With over 8,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Austin, Channelview, Dallas, and Houston, Texas; and San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. 

About HOK 

HOK is a global design, architecture, engineering, and planning firm with 1,700 people collaborating across 26 offices on three continents. Celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2025, the firm is committed to improving lives, serving clients, and healing the planet. A leader in healthcare design, HOK has a team of over 250 specialists who create environments that enhance patient care, improve operational efficiency, and promote wellness. Carbon neutral since 2022, HOK is dedicated to achieving net-zero emissions in its projects by 2030, with its designs surpassing the American Institute of Architects 2030 targets in 2023 by reducing energy use intensity by 65.5%. Established in 1983, HOK’s Los Angeles studio has played a vital role in shaping the built environment across Southern California, integrating global expertise with local insights to design adaptable, resilient spaces. Recognized as the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2023 DEI Company of the Year (Mid-Sized), HOK has also recently been named a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators and one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential Companies. Learn more at www.hok.com.