Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center, Kirkbride Building

The Kirkbride Building, part of the Fergus Falls Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, stands as a significant example of 19th-century institutional architecture. Designed by architect Thomas J. Mitchell, construction began in 1890 and it opened in 1895 as the Third Hospital for the Insane. The building's Kirkbride plan design was intended to provide a therapeutic environment for patients, with long corridors and ample natural light. Over its operational history, the facility evolved to treat a range of mental health conditions before its eventual closure in 2005.