Boston – Due in part to the ever expanding need for community health centers (CHCs) across the country, and fueled by the recent American Recovery Act, community health centers are expanding all over the country with significant construction projects in New England over the past three years.
“Within the past few years we have completed five significant projects, with another four in progress,” says Gary Walker a former architect and now owner’s representative for SAR+, of Boston. “We see this as a positive growth in a deserving market, and as a rewarding avenue within the construction industry for all those involved.”
Cities such as Lowell, Lynn, and Boston are enjoying major expansion with Lowell Community Health Center’s new mill building renovation, Lynn Community Health Center’s expanding Union Street location, and Joseph M. Smith CHC’s new location on Soldiers Field Road currently in design.
“This year we will put out over $30 million in total project costs of new CHC’s within the greater Boston and Cape Cod market,” Walker says. “It’s a good year ahead to say the least.” He warns however, that CHCs need to equip themselves with the right project teams in order to make these investments reach their objectives of expanding access to healthcare. “It’s still a hungry market, and the selection of appropriate design teams and contractors is key to success.”
This summer SAR+ will commence construction on a new 48,000sf Community Health Center in Allston, a 15,000sf Community Health Center in Barnstable, and various other CHC renovations to existing centers in the greater Boston area.