Healthcare Design Magazine: Friend Family Health Center

Originally published in Healthcare Design Magazine

Friend Health wanted to establish a project that serves medically underserved areas within Chicago’s neighborhoods, particularly in the city’s South Side area.

The resulting Friend Family Health Center in the Woodlawn neighborhood is certified as a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides low-cost services to residents in need, regardless of insurance, financial status, or immigration status.

Designed by Moody Nolan and built by construction firm Powers and Sons (Chicago), the project spans two stories and displays a welcoming façade to the neighborhood. The building entrances are aligned with public transportation routes to encourage accessibility.

A mural on the exterior of the facility celebrates the history and diversity of the Woodlawn community, as well. Painted by local muralist Rahmaan Statik Barnes, the piece uses warmth, color, and connectedness to feature “living legends” from Woodlawn, including  Pemon Rami, Takalayah Barnes, Atiyah RunTings, Afrika Porter, Lesle Honore, Rahmaan Statik, and Masequa Myers.

The celebration of local culture continues inside, where a large-scale history wall is filled with the cultural roots of Woodlawn.

The first floor of the facility includes a full-service pharmacy, a locally owned healthy cafe, group classrooms, and obstetrics and gynecology services. A majority of this space will serve as an education hub for the community, welcoming speakers, community groups, meetings, training and others.

The second floor houses several clinical service lines including family medicine, pediatrics, and behavioral health. Overall, the new facility can accommodate 35,000 patients annually with over 40 exam rooms across specialties.