Codman Square Health + Education Center

+ Overview

The Codman Square Health and Education Center is a unique collaboration between two organizations, Codman Square Health Center and Codman Academy Public Charter School, which serve one of the poorest communities in Boston. The two organizations encourage interaction between the students and health center staff exposing students to careers in healthcare and educating students on healthy lifestyles with the hope they will pass that knowledge on to their families and community.

Partially funded by a federal grant and a challenge to obtain LEED Gold Certification by an anonymous donor, the new William J. Walczak Health and Education Center wing and renovations to the existing facility allow the Health Center to treat an additional 5,000 patients a year with new exam rooms, treatment rooms, multi-purpose group rooms, offices, utility rooms and a reconfigured diagnostic imaging department. Benefits to Codman Academy include new arts, science and general education classrooms, a library, faculty office space, and an informal sitting room for students and family to meet with staff. Student and Health Center staff interaction is encouraged through a shared cafeteria with outdoor dining terrace and black-box theater space. Educational tours of the completed project focus on sustainable design features such as dedicated parking for carpools, a landscape design that incorporates low maintenance native species, a super-insulated building envelope, a highly reflective roof covering, increased indoor air quality, energy efficient mechanical equipment and lighting, Energy Star qualified appliances and equipment, and Greenguard certified furnishings.

© Photos by Peter Vanderwarker

+ Project Details

• Client Codman Square Health Center + Codman Academy Public Charter School
• Project Type Addition + Renovation
• Size 29,800 sf Addition + 13,200 sf Renovation

+ Awards

• 2013 IFMA Boston, Small Project Award Nominee