Esperanza is a Federally Qualified Health Center providing services to 14,500 patients. The project will develop a vacant brownfield lot into a 21,000 sq. ft. wellness center focused on fitness, counseling, healthy foods access/education, addiction recovery, and community-building. Esperanza Health, a non-profit healthcare organization with a faith-based mission, aspired to expand its outreach and services through the construction of a new Health and Wellness Center in North Philadelphia.

Known as Phase III in Esperanza’s plan for a dynamic health and wellness campus, Esperanza selected NORR for the design of a new budget-conscious facility that would become a safe and secure gathering place for the community.

In keeping with Esperanza’s mission, the design solution provides a welcoming environment that provides convenient access for the community. The 30,000 sq. ft., four-story building embraces both the site constraints and connects with the design aesthetic of the adjacent facilities on the Esperanza Health and Wellness Campus. The Center’s program features multi-purpose community rooms, a large gym space, group fitness rooms as well as flexible spaces that can support a variety of activities and adapt to Esperanza’s changing needs over time. The fourth floor features a conference center/event space that leads to a rooftop terrace. Currently under construction and scheduled for completion in the Summer of 2022, this additional space will alleviate overcrowding at its other facilities and promote a sense of well-being for this underserved community.