From a volunteer effort providing healthcare to Milwaukee’s homeless population to the full range of primary and behavioral health services available today, the Outreach Community Health Center has decades of experience providing accessible and affordable healthcare to the Greater Milwaukee area. This continuous growth and program expansion created a need for a physical expansion of its existing 210 W. Capitol Drive location.

The new 52,000-square-foot addition to Milwaukee’s Outreach Community Health Center (OCHC) opened in October 2023. The five-story addition connects directly to three floors of the original structure to facilitate a natural and convenient flow of foot traffic for its visitors and staff.

OCHC’s goal of providing holistic healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, extreme poverty, and lack of insurance coverage means that accessibility is central to its approach. The recent expansion has allowed OCHC to consolidate all of its services in one central location so that those in need can receive primary care, dental care, and mental health services on-site. OCHC works closely with other social services and provides culturally sensitive care and language assistance to their patients.

As the first WELL-certified building in the state of Wisconsin, the OCHC was built as a physical environment designed to enhance human health through deliberate design. This was achieved through a variety of different ways, including making the space easily navigable with a modern and natural design. An abundance of living greenery and natural light was utilized to enhance visitors’ sense of mental well-being.

Wanting to incorporate natural and modern patterns of wood, stone, and accent colors led Continuum Architects to Echelon Masonry, the masonry brand of Oldcastle APG. Echelon Masonry’s Aria Slim Full-Depth Veneer™ was chosen for both its color and shape. Unlike a typical 8-inch brick, the 36-inch long Aria Slim creates long lines that give a clean and modern impression to the building. Echelon provided a custom color for the units to complement the existing structure and bring in a sense of nature with earth-tone blends. The result is a modern look that avoids the stark and clinical atmosphere commonly found in the healthcare setting.

Falamak Nourzad, co-founder and design principal of Continuum Architects who worked on the OCHC expansion, said “We are in a modern era; we should exude this century and bring masonry into modernity with size and slim profiles like Aria. Modernity means not using stark plain veneer, but rather bringing a sleek and modern feel to traditional brick buildings with modern colors tastefully matching the existing building. We are super appreciative of the Aria Slim line. Masons need to understand and not shy away from modern lines that are value-engineered to streamline projects and costs.”

Sustainability was also a major consideration in the design. Durability, sustainability, and maintenance were carefully considered when selecting materials in order to ensure that the resulting addition was environmentally friendly. Other sustainability aspects include a solar array on the roof, bioswales, green space, a green roofing system, and an underground stormwater containment system.

The OCHC has been recognized for excellence in construction, winning The Daily Reporter’s Top Projects. The Top Projects Award recognizes high-profile construction projects in Wisconsin. It was judged based on its impact on the community, challenges, scope, teamwork, and innovative building techniques.

Arteaga Construction, with project lead Anthony Arteaga, said his crew was impressed at the minimal amount of breakage onsite. “The Aria pallets were stacked cleanly and the color blend was consistent, so we could intuitively just grab from a couple of pallets and lay in the wall.” He noted there was also minimal time blending in the field. “Aria dimensions were true – no warping or bending that can be typical to the manufacturing process of clay brick,” he added. This made labor and meeting the timeline much easier.

The Outreach Community Health Center not only provides health care but also promotes healthy living through its design for everyone who walks through its doors. This new expansion will allow the center to continue its positive growth as it is able to expand and improve programs to help the residents of Milwaukee.

Learn more about Echelon , a brand of Oldcastle APG, at www.EchelonMasonry.com. For more about Continuum Architects visit continuumarchitects.com.