Whittier Street Health Center opens 79,000 s/f LEED Silver certified health and wellness facility

Whittier Street Health Center recently exhibited its new 79,000 s/f, six-story green building at 1290 Tremont St. The center's space has been extended with this new health and wellness facility facilitating affordable, high quality healthcare. This $37 million worth building will accommodate a wide range of social, medical, and wellness services. With this new facility, an extensive array of services including behavioral health and substance abuse services, a physical therapy clinic, dental and eye care, a pharmacy, and community space has been provided. In association to Dana-Farber Community Cancer Care, this facility will feature the Dana-Farber Mammography Suite and medical oncology consultation in order to minimize the mortality rates due to cancer. The facility has been designed in a way that includes several green features, hence anticipating a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver building certification. The new facility is an accentuation of Whittier's commitment to structuring a healthy building and environment. The new building is funded in part through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding (ARRA). In 2010, Whittier received a $12 million grant through an ARRA, a funding opportunity supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "Massachusetts is a national leader in access to health care, thanks to organizations like the Whittier Street Health Center," said Governor Deval Patrick. "Whittier's new facility has created jobs and opportunities for hundreds of Massachusetts residents. I thank the Obama Administration and all of the committed partners for supporting this innovative health center." The development team includes the Whittier Street Health Center Committee, Inc. as the owner/developer; Donoghue Barrett & Singal, P.C. as the legal counsel; Domenech Hicks & Krockmalnic as the project architect; Weston & Sampson as the geotechnical & environmental engineer; McMahon Associates as the traffic engineer; STV Inc. as the civil engineer and land surveyor; R.D. Kimball as the mechanical and plumbing engineer; Lightship Engineering, LLC as the environmental engineer; Weidlinger Associates as the structural engineer; GLC Development Resources, LLC as the development consultant; and KV Associates, Inc. as the building consultants. The Boston Public Health Commission's 2011 Health of Boston Report states that Roxbury witnesses relatively high infant mortality rates and hospitalizations due to heart disease and ranks second for highest diabetes hospitalization rate among the 16 neighborhoods of Boston. The new facility will also provide 50 new full time healthcare jobs, and 450 construction jobs have already been offered with the new building construction.