$5.3M green project to become new home for Northeast Guidance Center

The Northeast Guidance Center will begin construction this month on a two-building $5.3 million development to be called the Conner Campus. The project will replace the current 15,000-square-foot facility located at 2670 Chalmers with a new 5,600-square-foot green clubhouse and 15,000-square-foot administrative facility.

The green components of the project included consultation from United Way’s Community Capital Growth Fund and participation in design charrettes. Project architect is Hamilton Anderson and Associates.

Green features include a reuse of a brownfield site (which netted tax credits), a limitation on paving, use of native plants, water efficient fixtures, the use of locally produced materials as well as those with recycled contents, light-colored roofing, high efficiency light, heating and cooling systems and the promotion of alternative modes of transportation such as bus, bicycle and ride-share for clients and employees.

The clubhouse, or Wellness Academy, will have a state-of-the-art conference center that will accommodate up to 100 and the administrative building will have training facilities for another 100.

NEGC was founded in 1963 to provide community-based services that promote total wellness with an emphasis on mental health. Occupancy for the new campus is slated for March 2009.

Source: Mary Grace Wilbert, Detroit Economic Growth Corp.
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh