Awards Green People

Element Care Receives Sustainability Award

(l-r) John Hyde: Chapman Construction/Design, Bob Durante: Element Care, Jay Mason" Architectural Consulting Services

(l-r) John Hyde, Chapman Construction/Design; Bob Durante, Element Care; and Jay Mason, Architectural Consulting Services

Lowell, MA – Element Care, a nonprofit healthcare organization, recently received The Lowell Sustainability Council’s 2016 Green Building Excellence Award for its new facility on Central Street in Lowell. Architectural Consulting Services designed the space, and Chapman Construction/Design managed its construction.

The project team made reducing the environmental impact of construction a top priority in the transformation of this High Victorian Gothic building into an adult day healthcare facility.

The renovation utilized many materials with recycled content, as well as energy-efficient lighting fixtures and transom windows that allow natural light into the workspace. Throughout the project’s 14-month construction schedule, Chapman Construction/Design worked to conserve natural resources, minimize waste, and maximize indoor air quality.

The new facility is now one of the most advanced Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) centers in the country, equipped with exam and physical therapy rooms that allow for in-house care from top physicians and nurses, as well as an occupational therapy apartment to help train patients with self-care tasks. The facility also offers multipurpose rooms for art, music, and cooking programs. When fully utilized, it will provide comprehensive care to more than 250 elderly patients in the area.

Supporting the local economy was another priority for the project, which provided numerous jobs within the community while revitalizing the historic building.

Lowell Mayor Edward Kennedy presented the award to Element Care at the Lowell Sustainability Council Meeting in May. Representatives from Architectural Consulting Services and Chapman Construction/Design also attended to support this successful project.