The Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center is a 46,860 sq. ft. wellness facility designed to advance prevention, healing, and whole-person care for Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood. As design/build partner and General Contractor, ALL Construction Group collaborated closely with Humboldt Park Health and JGMA Architects to deliver this $27.5 million landmark on budget while upholding high standards of quality and safety. More than a fitness center, the Wellness Center serves as a dynamic hub for health, culture, and community connection for residents of Humboldt Park and surrounding neighborhoods. The facility features art by local creatives, culturally responsive programming, and amenities including a lap pool, therapy pool, indoor running track, strength and fitness areas, yoga and spin studios, physical therapy spaces, locker rooms, childcare, offices, meeting rooms, and a large multipurpose room. ACG constructed major structural systems, including two underground stormwater detention tanks, shallow foundations, load-bearing masonry walls, a steel superstructure, and led design/build coordination of all MEP-FP systems. The team also delivered a complex building envelope with trapezoidal curtainwall glazing and self-performed masonry, insulation, light-gauge framing, carpentry, drywall, acoustic ceilings, and doors and hardware.

The project consisted of a three-story structural steel superstructure with load-bearing masonry walls and slabs on metal decks. Below-grade work included the installation of two stormwater detention tanks, while the foundation and exterior incorporated spread footings and exterior walls constructed of cold-formed light gauge systems. Wall systems included a combination of brick veneer and ACM metal panels with curtainwall assemblies. ACG collaborated closely with Humboldt Park Health and JGMA Architects to convert the MEP-FP scope to a Design/Build format, allowing the design to progress while mitigating potential cost impacts. Throughout the project, ACG conducted constructability reviews, developed budgets as drawings were completed, and provided value engineering recommendations to help maintain the project within budget. All site logistics planning were managed by ACG in coordination with Humboldt Park Health. Throughout the design and construction phases, ACG provided ongoing value analyses, budget updates, and target value design recommendations to guide the Humboldt Park Health and JGMA in achieving the GMP budget. Cost estimating and budget management were integrated with constructability reviews, and construction scheduling services included preliminary schedules and Pull-Plan schedules for the building structure, envelope, and interior finishes. Permitting strategies included phased approvals all coordinated by ACG and JGMA.

The project involved some technical, environmental, and logistical challenges that required early coordination and disciplined project management. At the 50% Design Development stage of the project, ACG coordinated with the Humboldt Park Health and JGMA to revise the scope of the MEP- FP trades to a Design/Build format. Immediately prior to the start of excavation activities, ACG discovered additional soils issues which prohibited ACG from disposing of the spoils as originally planned. ACG worked with the testing agency, the excavation subcontractor, various trucking companies, as well as the local landfills to address the disposal as economically as possible. ACG further worked with Humboldt Park Health and their consultant to obtain a No Further Remediation letter at the conclusion of the project and minimized impacts to cost and schedule. The building’s façade system, consisting of brick veneer, ACM metal panels, and curtainwall assemblies all required detailed coordination between structural, envelope, and architectural systems. BIM coordination, fabrication sequencing, and strict field tolerances were necessary to meet design requirements. Utility coordination also presented challenges, including delays from ComEd in providing permanent power, which required schedule resequencing. ACG addressed these issues through value engineering, open-book cost tracking, phased permitting, and pull-plan scheduling, maintaining control of budget, schedule, and construction quality.

There were no major accidents or injuries on this project. Only one minor, no–work-loss injury was reported.

The Humboldt Park Wellness Center represents a transformative addition to the Humboldt Park community by providing accessible, state-of-the-art wellness services. By combining recreational and therapeutic facilities under one roof. The center offers community a comprehensive approach to health, fitness, and well-being. The integration of wellness, recreation, and healthcare enhances the quality of life for residents, offering a safe, modern, and supportive environment for personal and family health. Beyond its facilities, the project contributed to the community through thoughtful planning and engagement. ALL Construction Group collaborated closely with the hospital to ensure that construction was completed within budget while maintaining high-quality standards. The inclusion of childcare spaces, meeting rooms, and flexible multipurpose areas underscores the center’s role as a true community hub, serving not just as a health facility but as a gathering space that encourages social connection and community programming. The Wellness Center also embodies the principles of accessibility and inclusion. As an affordable healthcare facility, it ensures that residents of Humboldt Park and surrounding neighborhoods have access to vital wellness services without financial barriers. The project’s innovative design and construction approaches, including the use of a unique building envelope system and high-quality finishes, demonstrate a commitment to creating a landmark facility that is both functional and aesthetically engaging. Through this project, ALL Construction Group helped to not only deliver a technically complex and visually striking facility but also fostered long-term positive impact by providing residents with a positive and safe space.

The Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center delivers meaningful community impact by expanding access to preventive, rehabilitative, and recreational health services in a Chicago neighborhood that has historically experienced health disparities related to income, access to care, and chronic disease outcomes. By consolidating fitness, therapy, and wellness services within a single, modern facility, the center reduces barriers to care and supports a more integrated approach to physical and mental well-being for residents of Humboldt Park and surrounding West Side communities. The facility provides safe, affordable access to essential health resources, including therapeutic pools, physical therapy, fitness areas, and wellness programming that supports the management and prevention of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mobility-related challenges that disproportionately affect the community. Childcare spaces, meeting rooms, and multipurpose areas further extend the center’s role beyond healthcare delivery, allowing families to participate in wellness activities while supporting workforce participation, education, and community programming.

The Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center is one of the rare major institutional facilities in Chicago conceived, designed, and built entirely under Latino leadership: Owner CEO José Sánchez, Architect Juan Moreno of JGMA, and General Contractor Luis Puig of ALL Construction Group. Economic inclusion was a core achievement. This cultural and professional alignment enabled authentic community engagement, inclusive hiring strategies, and procurement outcomes that exceeded expectations: 38% minority-owned and 10% women-owned business participation. Latino-owned subcontractors delivered major scopes across mechanical, electrical, steel, and architectural systems, deepening the project’s social and economic impact.

The University of Illinois Hospital, built in 1968, confronted several problems: a nearly unrecognizable entry, a dated and congested lobby, security issues, and navigation shortcomings. Additionally, the hospital faced heavy competition from nearby hospitals with updated amenities.

As the new centerpiece of the hospital campus, the UI Health Welcome Atrium elevates the organization’s image and reinforces its commitment to health equity. The 12,000-square-foot addition and 8,000-square-foot renovation reduce congestion while improving circulation and security. A nature-inspired, two-story atrium provides intimate spaces infused with natural light along with an inclusive contemplation space open to all faiths.

Constructed with zero lost-time and zero OSHA-recordable incidents, the project reflects a strong commitment to worker safety. What was once a stressful arrival marked by long waits and cramped conditions has become a soothing experience that improves community access and quality of care.

From Hidden Door to Civic Beacon
Challenge: The hospital’s main entry on Taylor Street was virtually unrecognizable as a portal to the main hospital. The entry canopy was low, dark, and inset from the street, and the actual doors were nearly invisible.

Response: The design of the expansion creates a crystal jewel box by day and a glowing hearth at night. A wide canopy faces Taylor Street and welcomes visitors with lighting at night and heat throughout the winter. The enclosure features a future green roof, triple-glazed walls, and polished stone stepped planters that surround the perimeter and mimic the interior planters. The inside and outside design of the planters blurs the line of the interior ending at the building envelope.

Clarity Replaces Congestion
Challenge: The existing reception desk stood close to the revolving front door and directly in the path to the elevators — visitors waited in long lines that often continued outside. Additionally, the crammed interior caused confusion navigating the space.

Response: When visitors step through the new 16-foot self-rotating revolving door, they enter a spacious, light-filled atrium and approach a large reception desk. A wide diagonal corridor leads to a full-height wayfinding art wall that signals the building’s central public elevator bank. In the opposite direction, a grand stair leads up to the second level pedestrian bridge and the contemplation space.

Comfort Through Space and Distance
Challenge: The congested seating area forced sick patients, visitors, and hospital vendors into a condensed space.

Response: Spread-out seating area clusters promote privacy — visitors can relax and not worry about sitting so close to others.

An Inclusive Refuge of Light and Warmth
Challenge: The existing waiting area was dark and offered no inspiring design elements.

Response: A contemplation space, featuring bamboo cladding and slots of textured glass, appears to float over the lobby. This atrium centerpiece brings warmth into the otherwise cool-toned professional waiting room. Within, a nondenominational contemplation space welcomes all visitors who need a quiet place for retreat.

The elliptical underside of the contemplation space encloses a central seating area ideal for families of small children to gather and play. Additionally, four manmade trees absorb sound and dapple seating areas with sunlight streaming through the low-emissive glazing.

Watch this video to learn more about the UI Health Welcome Atrium’s design features: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHm6idqb-g

Building Up Without Shutting Down
Challenge: Building the atrium on top of a plaza, below which was the hospital’s electrical service, kitchen, and patient clinic spaces.

Response: The expansion was designed and constructed so that the utilities and the power remained unaffected. A complex construction phasing plan maintained the weathertightness of the occupied basement space while a two-story structure was built through a winter. This was accomplished by leaving the plaza pavement/membrane in place, surgically welding columns to the structure below, and sealing the new column to the membrane to keep out the cold.

Field-Adjustable Steel to Protect the Schedule
Challenge: Demolition to expose the deck and existing steel column caps was very closely coordinated to avoid disruptions. Since the base of the columns was the existing building structural steel from over 50 years ago, the exact location and height were unknown.

Response: To eliminate this risk, we worked closely with the steel fabricator to install stub columns that could be easily modified in the field. This allowed us to release the large structural columns in advance and not lose time on steel erection if the heights and locations were not as shown on the 1970s as-built drawings.

Precision Craft for a Floating Form
Challenge: The contemplation space was designed to have a complex, ellipsoid shape.

Response: The metal frame for the structure was prefabricated off-site as large radiused panels and assembled on-site for greater control and precision. Additionally, the millwork cladding was fabricated as a panelized system to have greater control for the custom details.

This project had an excellent safety record with zero lost time and zero OSHA recordable incidents. To achieve this, F.H. Paschen implemented a robust training program, requiring all supervisors to be 30-hour OSHA certified, first aid certified, and AED trained.

We required mandatory job hazard analyses on all work and implemented and reviewed all subcontractor safety plans prior to start of work. Safety stand-down meetings were held throughout the project on a variety of topics to reinforce the safety-first mentality.

The UI Health Welcome Atrium has had a strong impact on the surrounding community and the diverse populations served by the University of Illinois Hospital. As the hospital’s new front door, the atrium transforms what was once a confusing and unwelcoming entry into a dignified civic space that communicates care and respect from the moment patients and visitors arrive.

Located within a dense, economically diverse area of Chicago, UI Health plays a critical role as a provider dedicated to health equity. The atrium supports that mission by reducing stress and anxiety through intuitive wayfinding, improved security, and generous natural light. Comfortable, dispersed seating accommodates patients with varying physical and emotional needs.

Inclusion is embedded throughout the design. A prominent, nondenominational contemplation space offers a quiet refuge for reflection and prayer, welcoming people of all faiths and backgrounds. Barrier-free circulation and clear sightlines promote independence and dignity for all users, including those with disabilities or limited English proficiency. These design strategies strengthen community trust and reinforce UI Health’s commitment to compassionate, inclusive care.

A Welcoming Front Door for a Safety-Net Hospital
As the new main entry to University of Illinois Hospital, the Welcome Atrium reshapes the first impression for a facility that serves a large, economically diverse patient population. The project replaces a confusing, stressful arrival with a dignified, light-filled civic space that communicates care and respect. This transformation directly improves daily experiences for those who rely on UI Health as an essential community resource.

Reducing Barriers to Care Through Design
Intuitive wayfinding and improved security help patients navigate the hospital independently, reducing anxiety and missed appointments. Dispersed seating clusters provide comfort and privacy for families managing long waits or difficult diagnoses. These design strategies are especially impactful for underserved populations who may already face systemic barriers to accessing healthcare.

Inclusive Spaces That Reflect Community Diversity
A prominent nondenominational contemplation space welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds, offering a quiet refuge for reflection or emotional reset. Barrier-free circulation and legible paths support users of all abilities and ages. The atrium’s design reinforces UI Health’s mission of equity, dignity, and compassionate care for everyone it serves.

Investment in a Vital Urban Corridor
Located along Taylor Street, the atrium strengthens UI Health’s presence within a dense, historically underserved Chicago neighborhood. The project elevates the hospital’s public identity, contributing to neighborhood pride and long-term institutional stability. By investing in a welcoming environment, the project supports sustained community health and vitality.

Economic and Workforce Impact
The project generated construction jobs and engaged local and regional trades, contributing to economic activity in Chicagoland. As a visible reinvestment in a public healthcare institution, the atrium helps UI Health remain competitive, retain staff, and continue serving as a major employer in the area. This long-term stability directly benefits the surrounding community.

The Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Advanced Outpatient Center redefines healthcare delivery through a bold, community-embedded design that celebrates Bronzeville’s legacy of art, culture, and resilience. This five-story, mixed-use facility combines design creativity with purpose, integrating outpatient clinics, wellness education spaces, retail, and parking within a compact urban site. Its bronze façade, inspired by woven patterns symbolizing unity, reflects the neighborhood’s cultural vibrancy while reinforcing Northwestern Medicine’s identity of trust and excellence.
The project challenges included designing on a tight urban infill lot while maintaining uninterrupted community access during construction. Innovative prefabrication of modular exam pods improved efficiency, quality, and adaptability. Collaboration between LJC, Brook Architecture, Hill Mechanical, and Blackrock Construction fostered mentorship, equity, and technical excellence.

The project achieved an exceptional safety record, completing construction with zero lost-time incidents through proactive planning and continuous communication across a diverse, multi-contractor workforce.

Its impact on the community is profound: conceived through engagements sessions with over 225 participants, the center localizes access to healthcare in an underserved area while dedicating 10% of its program to community use. It embodies inclusion through a diverse project team, local workforce participation, and spaces designed for wellness, education, and connection. It is an enduring symbol of equitable, community-driven design.

The creative vision for the Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Advanced Outpatient Center emerged from a deeply collaborative and community-driven design process that sought to reimagine outpatient healthcare as a cultural, civic, and healing experience. From the outset, the design team embraced the challenge of creating a facility that would both meet complex clinical requirements and authentically reflect Bronzeville’s legacy of art, music, resilience, and medical leadership.

A defining aspect of the creative process was extensive community engagement, including listening sessions, interviews, and design workshops with more than 225 residents and stakeholders. These conversations directly informed the program resulting in expanded oncology services and the addition of pediatrics and also the architectural concept. The resulting “woven unity” parti draws inspiration from African basket weaving, a powerful metaphor for strength, interconnectedness, and care. This idea was translated into the building’s bronze façade screen, gentle curvature, and rhythmic composition, creating an aesthetic that is both contemporary and culturally resonant.

Design complexity was heightened by the project’s tight urban infill site, the integration of healthcare, parking, retail, and community spaces within a single five-story structure, and the need to maintain a welcoming civic presence at a key neighborhood intersection. These challenges were addressed through innovative vertical organization, intuitive circulation, and a transparent ground level that activates the street and visually connects interior life with the surrounding community.

Creative problem-solving extended into construction methods. The use of prefabricated exam pods introduced a modular, repeatable clinical planning strategy that improved quality control, reduced construction time, and allowed long-term adaptability, while also supporting mentorship and participation by minority-owned construction partners.

Interior spaces balance warmth and performance through daylight-rich environments, framed skyline views, tailored clinic waiting areas, and art integrated throughout public spaces. Sustainable strategies like bird-friendly design, native landscaping, and daylight harvesting were woven seamlessly into the architecture, reinforcing both environmental responsibility and human comfort.

The Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Outpatient Center presented significant construction complexity due to its dense urban context, integrated mixed-use program, and advanced structural and healthcare requirements. Delivering the project’s architectural vision, clinical performance, and community-driven goals required a highly coordinated construction process grounded in precision, collaboration, and quality control.

One of the primary challenges was constructing a five-story facility that integrates outpatient clinics, community spaces, retail, and parking on a tight urban infill site at a major neighborhood intersection. Maintaining pedestrian safety, access to adjacent residences and businesses, and uninterrupted neighborhood circulation required detailed phasing plans, logistics coordination, and ongoing communication with local stakeholders.

Structural complexity due to schedule implications and existing subsoil conditions was a defining challenge of the project. The building is composed of two distinct structural systems separated by a seismic movement joint. The north half of the building, housing clinical and community spaces, utilizes a structural steel frame with lateral concrete shear walls; the south half of the building, primarily parking, employs a post-tensioned concrete system. This allowed the contractor to construct the south portion of the building first (while steel was ordered and fabricated for the north portion) and use it for construction staging and lay-down space throughout the construction process – a necessity for a lot-line to lot-line project in an urban environment.

The client’s requirement for flat-plate parking introduced additional complexity, as a full parking level on Level 3 separates clinical floors above and below. This condition demanded highly detailed waterproofing, vibration control, and envelope coordination to ensure the clinic spaces remained weather-tight and acoustically isolated from the parking deck above.

Foundation design further added complexity. As the subsoil conditions varied across the site, the team opted to utilize an auger-cast pile foundation system, which is atypical for Chicago and required extensive coordination with the City during permitting, construction, and inspection. This system was selected to minimize disruption to surrounding properties on the urban site and to mitigate the varying subsoil conditions by utilizing a single foundation system that was suitable to every unique loading condition.

Construction complexity was amplified by the use of off-site prefabricated exam pods for some of the clinical spaces. This approach required early and intensive coordination among architects, engineers, contractors, and manufacturers to align tolerances, building systems, and installation sequencing. While technically demanding, prefabrication enhanced quality control, reduced construction duration, and minimized on-site disruption.

Ensuring the highest quality of construction was achieved through early contractor involvement, full-scale mock-ups of façade and interior assemblies, and rigorous quality assurance protocols. The bronze façade screen, curved glazing, bird-friendly detailing, and integrated parking structure required close collaboration between fabricators, installers, and the design team to achieve both aesthetic intent and performance standards.

Despite these challenges, the project was delivered through a collaborative, problem-solving approach that balanced technical rigor with community sensitivity, resulting in a highly crafted, resilient healthcare facility that reflects excellence in both design and construction.

Orientations: 1,222 individuals completed safety orientation on the job
Hours and workers: Project peaked at 200 workers on-site, working a total of 320,000 man-hours

Trainings: Contractors completed over 400 toolbox talks on-site, each done on a weekly basis for all of their employees.

Observations: Over 1,000 safety observations completed, identifying 650 positive behaviors and conditions on-site while also correcting 400 potential issues to keep workers safe.

Incidents: The project only had 5 recordable injuries resulting in no lost-time, keeping the project’s incident rate below national averages.

Ujamaa/Power assigned a full-time site safety coordinator who oversaw the site activities, met with contractor supervision to plan for upcoming activities, conducted safety orientation and overall led the project team in conducting safety meetings and observations on-site. The project hosted the nearby OSHA training institute for two tours to assist in their construction safety standards course, welcoming over 30 compliance officers-in-training and instructors as an example of how well a general contractor manages safety on the site. Ujamaa/Power also held site-wide stand downs during OSHA and other program theme weeks like construction safety week, Safe and Sound week, AGC Stand for Safety, and National Stand Down to Prevent Falls. All these proactive procedures and approaches led to a culture and focus on safety during the project ultimately leading to a successful safety performance.

The Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Outpatient Center has had a transformative impact on the Bronzeville community by localizing access to high-quality healthcare, fostering economic opportunity, and reinforcing a sense of ownership, dignity, and presence through design and delivery.
Situated at 48th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, the project places comprehensive outpatient services such as Immediate Care, Imaging, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Medical Oncology, and Primary Care directly within a historically underserved neighborhood. What began as a modest clinic expanded significantly through community engagement, resulting in a 50% increase in oncology space and the addition of a pediatrics clinic, ensuring care for residents across all stages of life. Immediate Care services are available seven days a week, further strengthening access when it is most needed.

Community accessibility was foundational to both the process and the outcome. More than 225 community members and organizations participated in listening sessions, interviews, and design workshops, held both in person and virtually during COVID to maximize participation. Nearly 10% of the building program is dedicated to community-focused spaces, including flexible meeting rooms, wellness classrooms, and a demonstration kitchen that supports nutrition education and preventative health programming in partnership with Northwestern Medicine and local chefs.
The project also advances equity through economic and workforce equity. A City Redevelopment Agreement required participation from the local 606 zip code, ensuring neighborhood representation within the design and construction workforce. Minority-owned and locally based firms, including Brook Architecture and Blackrock Construction, played critical roles, supported by mentorship initiatives led by LJC, Power Construction, and Hill Mechanical. This intentional approach helped expand access to prefabrication expertise, leadership opportunities, and long-term career pathways for underrepresented professionals.

Physically, the building integrates seamlessly into the community fabric. Street-level retail activates the corner, native landscaping and public seating invite everyday use, and transparent public spaces create visual connection between interior activity and the neighborhood, reinforcing trust and belonging.

Together, these strategies ensure the Bronzeville AOCC is not only a place for care, but a shared civic asset.

The Northwestern Medicine Bronzeville Outpatient Center is a strong candidate for the CBC Community Impact Award because it delivers measurable, lasting benefits to an economically disadvantaged community through equitable healthcare access, integrated development practices, and sustained community partnership.

Located in Chicago’s historic Bronzeville neighborhood, an area that has long experienced disinvestment and limited access to comprehensive healthcare, he project directly improves quality of life by localizing essential outpatient services. Residents can now access Immediate Care, Imaging, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Medical Oncology, and Primary Care within their own neighborhood, reducing travel burdens and removing barriers to timely treatment. Through extensive engagement with residents and community organizations, the project evolved from a modest clinic into a significantly expanded facility, increasing oncology services by 50% and adding a pediatrics clinic to better serve families and seniors alike. Immediate Care is available seven days a week, addressing urgent needs when access matters most.

Community inclusion shaped both the process and the outcome. More than 225 residents and stakeholders participated in listening sessions, interviews, and workshops, held both in person and virtually during COVID to maximize participation. Nearly 10% of the building program is dedicated to community use, including flexible meeting rooms, wellness classrooms, and a demonstration kitchen that supports nutrition education and preventative health programming. These spaces extend care beyond clinical treatment, empowering residents with tools for healthier living.

Economic impact and workforce inclusion were central to the project’s delivery. A City Redevelopment Agreement required participation from the local 606 zip code, ensuring neighborhood representation within the design and construction workforce. Minority-owned and locally based firms, including Brook Architecture, Blackrock Construction, and Hill Mechanical, played critical roles, supported by mentorship initiatives led by LJC, Power Construction, and Ujamaa. This approach expanded access to specialized skills, leadership opportunities, and long-term career pathways for underrepresented professionals.

By combining healthcare access, economic opportunity, and community-driven design, the Bronzeville Outpatient Center is not only improving health outcomes, it is strengthening social equity, fostering local pride, and serving as a catalyst for continued investment and resilience in Bronzeville.

The Center for Mental Wellbeing – South transforms an existing two-story facility through a 7,000-square-foot, three-story expansion that redefines the building as a modern, dignified place of hope, health, and healing on Chicago’s South Side. A new centralized entrance, framed by a gently sloping landscaped courtyard, establishes a calm and welcoming approach while discreetly resolving a significant grade change. This layered procession culminates in a light-filled interior, where a new elevator links all levels and introduces a fully accessible third floor housing staff amenities and a conference center with expansive neighborhood views.

The design was directly shaped by community engagement. Early concepts placed the entrance along a residential street, but neighbors expressed concerns regarding safety and activity spillover. In response, the entry was reimagined within a protected courtyard accessed from 47th Street. This collaborative shift transformed a constraint into an asset, creating a secure outdoor threshold and a place of respite from the surrounding urban edge, while seamlessly integrating a sloped approach into the landscape.

Inside, a compact radial plan maximizes efficiency within a constrained footprint, while a modest double-height atrium draws daylight deep into the building and reinforces openness, connection to nature, and therapeutic calm. Durable masonry grounds the addition in its residential context and extends the language of the original building, while smooth and ribbed contemporary panels animate the courtyard façades with rhythm and movement.

Through the careful integration of accessibility, light, material richness, and community responsiveness, the Center for Mental Wellbeing – South establishes a lasting architectural resource that elevates the experience of care and affirms dignity, stability, and renewal.

The creative design process for the Center for Mental Wellbeing – South was shaped by an intensive programming phase involving multiple departments, including Facilities, Art Therapy, Behavioral Health, and staff training and lounge spaces. This early collaboration established a clear, problem-solving framework that translated functional, spatial, and site constraints into a cohesive architectural solution. The project’s innovation is grounded in the integration of accessibility, community engagement, and spatial clarity within an existing building and a constrained urban site.

An iterative, sectional design approach addressed key challenges, including a 42-inch grade change, limited expansion area, code-driven accessibility and egress requirements, and the need to maintain privacy and security for members. Close coordination between site, structural, and architectural systems informed major design decisions. When neighborhood feedback raised concerns about the original entrance location, the entry was relocated into a protected courtyard. This adjustment increased design complexity but improved security, contextual fit, and the experience of arrival. The sloped courtyard now functions as both an accessible route and an architectural promenade, creating a dignified transition from the street to the interior.

Inside, compact planning strategies—including a radial plan and a small double-height atrium—maximize efficiency and daylight. The atrium draws natural light deep into the ground floor, establishing a calm, luminous atmosphere and a direct connection to nature that supports the project’s therapeutic mission while reinforcing intuitive wayfinding.

Life-safety requirements further informed the design. Third-floor egress is provided by a fire-rated exterior stair integrated into the narrow side yard, achieving full code compliance without expanding the building footprint or reducing usable interior space. Native landscaping supports stormwater management and frames a healing outdoor environment.

Material selection reinforces the project’s intent. A two-story masonry volume grounds the expansion within its residential context and complements the existing building, while textured contemporary panels animate the courtyard façades with subtle rhythm and refinement. Together, these strategies produce an architecture that balances innovation, constructability, and human experience, enhancing both aesthetic and functional quality.

The Center for Mental Wellbeing – South required a highly coordinated construction process to integrate a three-story, 7,000-square-foot expansion into an active, existing two-story facility on a constrained urban site. Maintaining uninterrupted operations, protecting member privacy, and ensuring safety throughout construction were critical challenges that directly influenced sequencing, detailing, and coordination.

Initiated in 2017, the project represents more than eight years of partnership and perseverance with Thresholds—from early planning and community engagement through completion. During this extended timeline, the project faced significant budget challenges that resulted in a temporary pause in development and was later complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which introduced supply-chain disruptions, labor uncertainty, and cost escalation. Together, these factors required sustained collaboration and careful stewardship of quality, cost, and design intent throughout construction.

Construction quality was ensured through collaborative detailing, frequent on-site coordination meetings, and a close partnership between Thresholds, the General Contractor, and the design team. Particular attention was given to coordinating materials and specifications to respond to limited budgets while maintaining durability, performance, and architectural integrity. Through this disciplined and collaborative approach, the project resolved complex technical and operational challenges while achieving a high level of construction quality.

This project has no safety incidents to report.

The Center for Mental Wellbeing – South serves as both a critical healthcare resource and a stabilizing civic presence within its South Side neighborhood of Canaryville. The primary driver for the expansion was the need to bring full accessibility to an aging facility. The introduction of a new elevator ensures equitable access to all levels of the building and enabled expanded programming that strengthens services for members, staff, and the broader community. By modernizing and expanding an existing facility rather than displacing it, the project reinforces continuity of care and signals long-term investment in community-based mental health services.

Community inclusion was integral to the project’s development. Early and ongoing engagement with nearby residents directly informed key design decisions, most notably the relocation of the building entrance away from a residential street and into a protected courtyard accessed from 47th Street. This response addressed concerns related to safety, privacy, and activity spillover while strengthening trust between the institution and its surrounding neighborhood. The resulting courtyard now serves as a shared threshold, buffering the building from the urban edge and providing a calm, landscaped space that supports dignity and discretion for members.

Accessibility and inclusion shape the interior experience through daylight, views, and a strong connection to nature. Interior spaces are well lit and thoughtfully organized, fostering a calm, therapeutic environment that supports mental wellbeing across diverse populations.

Material and architectural choices further reinforce inclusion by grounding the building in its residential context while expressing renewal and care. Durable masonry conveys permanence and reliability and complements the existing building, while variegated smooth and textured panels along the courtyard introduce rhythm, movement, and contemporary expression.

Together, these strategies reduce stigma, support healing, and affirm mental health care as a vital community asset. The Center stands as an inclusive, dignified resource—shaped by community voices and dedicated to strengthening the social, physical, and emotional wellbeing of the neighborhood it serves.