Garrett's Space Retreat
Garrett’s Space is a holistic residential retreat for young adults, designed to support mental health and healing through connection, nature, and community-based care.
Suicide is a growing epidemic in the United States, claiming nearly 50,000 lives each year. Over the past two decades, rates have risen by 35 percent, making suicide the second leading cause of death among young people ages 15 to 34. Despite this crisis, innovative and effective support models remain limited.
In 2017, Garrett Halpert died by suicide at the age of 23 after struggling with depression. At the time, he longed for a holistic place to heal—but no such place existed. In response, Garrett’s Space was founded in 2018 to create the supportive, restorative environment Garrett needed, offering other young adults the opportunity for healing, connection, and community.
MASS partnered with Garrett’s Space to design a residential retreat dedicated to reducing suicide and addressing critical gaps in care for young adults ages 18 to 28. Located on a 76-acre site outside Ann Arbor, Michigan, the campus fosters wellness, resilience, and self-worth by encouraging meaningful connections—among peers, within oneself, and with the natural environment. Guests participate in voluntary three- to four-week stays in the main residence, with access to the creativity studio, expansive grounds, and activities including art, movement, gardening, cooking, supportive therapy, and personal reflection.
The design concept allows guests to choose how they engage socially, offering multiple scales of connection: private guest rooms for rest and introspection, small “pods” for intimate groups of five, and a “social spine” that links all guests while preserving personal agency. Trails, gardens, and a pond deepen these connections with nature.
The social spine aligns with the axis of the existing home, while pods branch outward toward scenic views. Each pod contains four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a shared space with a screened porch. A creativity studio adds a central courtyard between buildings, encouraging outdoor experiences that are both productive and restorative.
This scalable design approach extends from the site plan to room-level details. Within the social spine, guests may connect in cozy seating nooks, gather in a flexible dining area, or retreat to the serene library above the atrium.
Guest rooms function as personal sanctuaries, offering comfort, choice, and control. Each includes adjustable lighting and temperature, a desk, a window seat overlooking the landscape, and opportunities for personal expression through decor such as photos or artwork.
Bedroom
Shared living room and balcony
Library
Architecturally, the design draws from the aesthetic of the existing home, which features a heavy pencil-stone façade, cedar-shake roofing, and wood accents. The new residential center contrasts with a lighter expression—elevated on piers, clad in warm wood, and designed to sit gently within the land.
To reduce embodied carbon and limit site disruption, the project employs radial concrete footings with wood piers and lightweight timber framing, reducing concrete use by 62 percent. The building envelope features continuous wood-fiberboard and batt insulation, finished with durable Accoya slats. Accoya’s natural acetylation process extends the wood’s lifespan while reducing maintenance.
Great room
The surrounding landscape supports mental wellness through intentional connection and engagement. A central courtyard weaves together three distinct zones: a welcoming four-season pollinator garden; a wild, natural area for gathering and reflection; and a “growing and making” zone anchored by a community garden.
Hiking trails throughout the site encourage exploration and connection with nature, supporting emotional well-being and reducing stress. The plant palette enhances both ecological health and aesthetic richness, combining native trees with diverse plantings to increase biodiversity and create a restorative environment for guests and wildlife alike.
More than a retreat, Garrett’s Space is a prototype for how design and community care can come together to save lives. It honors Garrett’s memory while offering young people a path toward healing, self-worth, and a renewed sense of belonging.
