The East Harlem Council for Human Services, Inc., which operates the Boriken Neighborhood Health Center (Boriken), is a not-for-profit community-based organization that offers crucially needed services to the residents of East Harlem. Boriken, the largest program run by the Council, plays a vital role in providing medical services to the East Harlem community.

The Council hired NK Architects to relocate the Health Center from the third floor of Taino Towers to a building directly across the street. Boriken’s new home is a five story, 30,267 square foot building with an adjacent 6,320 square foot, three-story annex. This move increases its visibility, offers street-level access, and improves the efficiency of operation and medical services.

NK worked closely with Boriken Health to design its new primary care facility as a prototype Green health center in New York City, and the project will be Silver LEED Certified. A key aspect of the sustainable design approach is to create a healthcare facility that fosters a healthy environment, including a focus on providing a high level of indoor air quality through the use of efficient filtered HVAC systems and the use of low- to no-VOC emitting materials. The maximization of daylight in all occupied spaces is also a key element of the design.