By Chris Miller, Assistant Editor, Facility Market

Outreach Community Health Centers (OCHC) announced arrangements to construct a new 58,000- square-foot addition to one of its buildings in Milwaukee. The projected cost of construction is $15 million, according to Cision. The expansion will connect to the current clinic building. To introduce, authorize and use tax-exempt bond financing for the project, OCHC is working with bond and corporate counsel at Husch Blackwell LLP along with the cities of Glendale and Milwaukee. 

The addition will increase the health center’s capability to help more patients while providing critical behavioral health and primary care services. It primarily provides these services to Milwaukee’s uninsured, underinsured and homeless populations. OCHC has been planning this expansion for years and feels it has established a strong financial foundation.

The new space is designed as a patient-friendly and community-focused facility. The expansion will feature underground parking along with three floors of space, which will be the place for all the programs managed out of the original building. It also will be used to expand OCHC’s behavioral health services, care coordination and case management. Construction is anticipated to start in 2022 and be completed in 2023.

The new structure will be one of the first WELL Certified buildings in Wisconsin. This certification encourages organizations to create more considerate and deliberate spaces that enhance individual wellness. All current patient services still will be provided during construction. The team working on the project comprises Continuum Architects + Planners, Emem Group and JCP Construction.

OCHC provides services for medical, dental, mental health, substance abuse, emergency housing, crisis intervention, prenatal care coordination, case management/ protective payee, outreach, and advocacy, according to its website. It also provides HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and counseling.