Demand for addiction treatment and recovery services has reached a critical level at Spokane Falls Recovery Center, prompting a multimillion-dollar expansion project at the company's campus in North Spokane, say co-owners Brandon and Corrie Sturm. 

"We want to serve more people," says Brandon Sturm, who also is the facility's executive director.

Five years ago, the Sturms, who are married, opened a 5,700-square-foot outpatient treatment center at 101 E. Magnesium Road, followed by a six-bed inpatient detox and residential treatment facility at 107 E. Magnesium Road. The campus property also holds a 12,000-square-foot administration building and intake center at 113 E. Magnesium Road and a 4,200-square-foot warehouse building.

In response to the high level of demand for detox services, the recovery center aims to develop a 9,400-square-foot, 16-bed detox and residential treatment building, to be located at 111 E. Magnesium Road.

The expansion project, which is in the design phase, will replace an existing structure on the five-building, 2.5-acre campus.

Upon completion of the new structure, capacity for detox and residential treatment will increase to 22 individuals from the current capacity of six. 

Spokane Falls Recovery Center was established in 2019 and provides inpatient detox, residential treatment, a partial hospitalization program, intensive outpatient treatment, and general outpatient levels of care. Additionally, the company is licensed to conduct court-ordered assessments and hosts client-led self-help groups.

The Sturms have been working with Tony Rosetti, of Spokane-based Form Architecture Inc., who is designing the new residential and detox building.

The design prioritizes natural light and a comforting, healing atmosphere, they say.

Rendering by Form Architecture Inc.
Spokane Falls Recovery Center's planned 8-unit residential and detox building will increase treatment capacity by 16 individuals at the company's North Spokane campus.

The estimated construction value of the project is between $7 million and $8 million, says Corrie Sturm, director of administrative operations.

A general contractor likely will be selected sometime in January, adds Brandon.

Preliminary design plans call for eight 226-square-foot double-occupancy residential rooms, according to application information on file with the city of Spokane. Each residential room will have two full-size beds, wardrobe closets, and a TV, says Corrie.

A 255-square-foot nurses station will be centrally located near the residential rooms, plans show.

The building will feature two group areas: a 1,200-square-foot group living room and a 960-square-foot group room. It also will have a laundry area, a gym, family meeting space, two counselor offices and other staff areas, and a 900-square-foot dining room adjoining a 400-square-foot commercial kitchen, according to site plan information.

The cafeteria will have enough space to accommodate meals for staff and clients at the same time, says Brandon. A chef already has been hired, and a licensed dietitian and nutritionist will help build the menu to meet the health needs and any dietary restrictions that come up during an individual's care.

A large outdoor lounge also is planned at the site.

"It's taken us a solid year to work with the architects to develop what we think is going to change lives," Corrie says. "There's purpose behind where everything is going.

Despite the strong demand to increase capacity at Spokane Falls Recovery Center, the Sturms say they are taking their time to design a facility that meets all of their employee and client needs, and they haven't set a construction timeline yet.

The new residential and detox building will have the same levels of care as the center's original six-bed facility, while providing a more functional layout within an open and inviting atmosphere, the Sturms say.

Detox treatment currently provided on the campus is handled by a team of medical, nursing, clinical, and administrative staff.

"We have a smaller space where we have to go up and down stairs over there," Corrie says of the original residential and detox building. "It's important for my staff to function well and do their jobs in a space where everything flows."

The Sturms explain they decided to take on the expansion project now because they're proud of the care provided at Spokane Falls Recovery Center and find it difficult to turn away people who are seeking help due to space constraints.

"It's really hard when we can't help them ourselves because we know the type of treatment that they're going to get here, and we want to give it to them," Brandon says.

In preparation for the new building and increased treatment capacity, the Sturms already have started hiring and training new staff members.

About 30 full-time employees plus a handful of contractors work at Spokane Falls Recovery Center.

"We have developed and really secured a strong staff that has the same core values that we do: love, compassion, and integrity," says Corrie. "We're overstaffed now on purpose to give (new employees) the ability to learn how we do everything over the course of the next year."

Treatment at Spokane Falls Recovery Center involves a holistic approach that incorporates care of the whole individual including medical, mental, and self-care support.

The company works with an aesthetician and a massage therapist who regularly visit the campus where access to yoga and mediation areas also are provided.

"We bring in an aesthetician who's also in recovery to give beard trims or hair cuts. When they graduate, it's just a whole different person that walks out the door," Corrie says.

Spokane Falls Recovery Center also prioritizes individualized treatment plans that recognize recovery timelines will vary significantly based on individual needs. Other treatment center business models typically offer 30-, 60-, or 90-day programs, however, Corrie says clients at Spokane Falls Recovery Center rarely require the same amount of treatment time, so the company guides people through a multilevel treatment plan that covers detox, residential, and outpatient treatment.

The longer the treatment, the better chance of gaining and maintaining long-term sobriety, adds Brandon.

"Some people may need 30 days of treatment. Some people may need six months of treatment. Some people may require a year of treatment. Everybody's different," Corrie says.

While long-term sobriety is difficult to track definitively, the Sturms say the recovery center has a completion rate of over 90% for their detox and residential programs.

Ownership has cultivated a campus culture that emphasizes strong team dynamics and support both among the staff and those seeking treatment. The center's high success rate is largely attributed to the positive culture, they say. 

The Sturms, who both have been in recovery since 2007, say they were called to establish Spokane Falls Recovery Center after they sold two treatment centers the family owned and operated in 2015. The previous treatment centers were operated by the Sturms with guidance from Corrie's father, who she credits with teaching her how to run the business, she says. 

Eventually, the facilities grew too big for the couple to provide personalized attention to each client, driving the couple's decision to sell the business, explains Corrie.

"We were happy about that decision in the beginning and then deeply regretted it," she says.

The establishment of Spokane Falls Recovery Center was influenced by a cancer scare in the family that ultimately helped the Sturms realize how much they missed their previous work supporting people through recovery.

"We came out of the depths realizing we're supposed to be helping other people," Corrie says.