Aunt Martha’s Youth Services Center

Barton Malow collaborated with Aunt Martha’s Youth Services Center to build two new community health centers. The 19,000 SF, two-story Joliet Community Health Center features spaces for primary care, dental and behavioral health. The Joliet Community Health Center facility, constructed on the former Silver Cross Hospital campus, serves as a resource for the local community with 21 medical exam rooms, nine dental laboratories, five behavioral health offices and meeting spaces that are available for community organizations. The new 11,000 SF Pediatric Health & Wellness Center in Chicago Heights is designed for pediatric medical and behavioral health services. The facility serves families in need and the local community by housing nine medical exam rooms, five behavioral health offices, a wellness center with a fitness room, a pediatric play area, conference rooms and case management offices and support spaces. Similar to the Joliet facility, the conference rooms and meeting spaces are available for use by community organizations. The expansive glass entrances and lobbies of the two facilities serve as an inviting entryway and permit natural daylighting. The interiors are enhanced with bright colors and accent walls to create appealing spaces. The Chicago Heights facility’s interior features a nature theme that is inviting, energetic, and cheerful, characteristics ideal for a pediatric office. The theme is incorporated throughout the halls with synthetic leaves hanging from the ceilings, leaf decals in the tile flooring, and painted wood butterflies and birds on the walls. The two facilities were constructed using pre-cast concrete to mimic the texture and color of Joliet limestone. It is important that the new facilities reflected the architectural character of the local communities while instilling a sense of permanency. The pre-cast concrete enabled quicker installation of the exterior skin, satisfying Barton Malow’s firm schedule requirements. Both facilities are pursuing LEED Certification and comply with Buy American provisions.