Event
Stephen Yablon Presents at The New York Academy of Medicine
Central Harlem Health Center
The transformed historic Central Harlem Health Center creates a healthier community.
As part of the Mayor Bloomberg’s Design Excellence Program, SYA created a calm and reassuring clinic to encourage community use. Located in a landmarked 1930s McKim, Mead and White building, the $2.5M facility is wrapped by a combination of natural and high tech finishes with soft indirect lighting. An existing window wall clad in luminous sliding resin panels forms the backdrop for the reception and waiting area and provides a sense of orientation. The clinic is carefully planned for efficient patient and staff flow, easy navigation, and patient privacy. The entire project complies with the NYC DDC High Performance Guidelines through the use of sustainable materials and efficient systems. The high level of design and attention to light and materials, unusual for a public health clinic, is a source of community pride and has substantially increased its use by the community.
“With many of New York’s 22 free-standing, community-based free public health clinics existing in early 20th century, historic buildings, presenting communities with a functional and hospitable design can be quite the challenge for the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Manhattan-based Stephen Yablon Architect rose to the challenge by creating the Central Harlem Health Center, winner of Contract Magazine’s 2010 Healthcare Environment Awards, Health & Fitness category winner.”
Stacy Straczynski, Contract Magazine
“This is a very different approach to a public clinic. Smooth, cool and clean, this 7,000-square-foot clinic in Harlem provides thoughtful interior spaces with plenty of intimacy to encourage patients to talk about very difficult health concerns. The interiors show off the designer’s thoughtfulness and attention to detail, especially the lighting and ceiling design, and the quality of this effort is consistent throughout. ”
BSA Design Awards Jury Panel
A long waiting area links the two parts of the building divided by the existing core, creating a unified health center
Circulation spaces are clad in an interlocking "L" of warm and sleek finishes, expressing state-of-the-art care in a warm, welcoming environment
Main waiting and education space. Sliding luminous panels screen an adjacent service yard.
The luminous wall is made from a resin panel with beading created by African women affected by HIV and AIDS.
Typical circulation space
