A Look Inside the Men's Residence at Very Private Silver Hill Hospital

Make no mistake, there is nothing institutional about Scavetta House, the newly renovated men’s residence at , an independent, not-for-profit psychiatric hospital that straddles the border of New Canaan and Wilton.

The Tudor revival style building, with its hand hewn beams, working fireplace (discovered during renovations), custom made stair railing, granite kitchen counters, overstuffed leather furniture, carefully chosen art works and meticulous landscaping, could easily be mistaken for a country lodge.

Form follows the function of the building, and Heather Porter, director of marketing and business development for the hospital, said the $2 million renovation was done with a keen eye toward serving the patients who will live there.

“A sense of community is so important,” she said. “The men will live together and work together. They will learn about all new coping skills.”

The 6,000 square foot building has beds for 16 patients, 18 years and older. The facility will cater to patients suffering from addiction and dual disorders, who will stay for a minimum of 30 days during treatment Porter, said.

Porter took Patch on a tour of the building, which she said will be closed to the public as soon as the residents move in. The home was built in 1925 as a private residence and was purchased by Silver Hill in 1943. Architect Richard Turlington oversaw the renovations.

“If we give patients a warm, healing environment that is respectful of them,” Porter said. “They will be respectful of their environment.”

The men’s residence is the fourth building to be renovated as part of the hospital’s master plan. In August 2010, Barrett House, a women’s residence, was opened nearby on the hospital’s 40-acre campus.

Porter said a month’s stay at Scavetta House will cost about $30,000, only a small portion of which will be covered by insurance. She said most of the hospital’s patients “have access to resources,” but the hospital offers scholarships for adolescents and young adults, up to age 30.

Silver Hill’s raised $1.3 million for scholarships, and the hospital recently announced that this year’s gala will honor the actress, novelist, screenwriter — and Silver Hill alum — Carrie Fisher.

Porter said the hospital has about 180 active volunteers, and estimated that about two-thirds of them are alumni of the hospital.