County Breaks Ground on North County Wellness Center, Bringing Health and Social Services Closer to Residents

South San Francisco - Visitorsto the North County Wellness Center will be greeted in a bright, daylit reception area with natural timber walls and windows that look out to a garden.

They will be directed down wide hallways to a health clinic, a dental suite and private areas where they can learn about and apply for health insurance, nutrition assistance and additional social services.

Today, local officials and County leaders broke ground on the ambitious $132.5 million center at 1024 Mission Road, near BART and SamTrans stations.

"This center brings essential services closer to the residents who rely on the County and our partners for health care, dental care and more," said San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Pine, whose District 1 includes the Wellness Center.

"Once it is completed, individuals and families across the north county can meet with specialists to check their eligibility and apply for assistance for programs like CalFresh and low-cost child care all under one roof."

When it opens in 2026, the center's clinics will primarily serve individuals and families who receive care through Medi-Cal or are eligible for Medi-Cal, which provides free or low-cost programs. In addition to services provided by County Health and the Human Services Agency, the three-story, 77,000-square-foot building will also provide satellite offices for the District Attorney and Treasurer/Tax Collector.

The Wellness Center's design - described by the architect as contemporary and contextual - uses an abundance of natural wood instead of synthetic materials commonly found in paneling and ceiling tiles. The timber also softens the visual impact compared to most alternatives and naturally helps to muffle the sounds of a busy office.

"We want to create an environment where people are happy or feel uplifted to be here," said Board of Supervisors Vice President David Canepa, whose District 5 includes areas of South San Francisco.

"People may come here feeling a lot of stress: they're here to see a doctor or they may be seeking some form of public assistance. We want to avoid that feeling you get in so many public buildings where the concrete walls and bad lighting and cramped rooms just feel like they beat you down," he said.

County officials were joined at the groundbreaking by local officials and civic leaders.

The Wellness Center will be among the first health care buildings constructed with cross-laminated timber, which involves layers of wood bonded with adhesives. While wood is sustainable, the most common competitors - cement and steel - generate significant greenhouse gases during production.

The timber construction and inclusion of electric vehicle chargers, bicycle parking, native plants, solar energy stations and other sustainable features put the County on a path to achieve LEED Gold Certification.

Funding comes from the County's General Fund and Measure K,the countywide half-cent sales tax that provides local funds for local needs.

About the North County Wellness Center:

• Budget: $132.5 million
• Contractor: XL Construction
• Architect: SmithGroup

Features:

• Six-chair dental clinic with digital imagery
• Physical therapy services
• Specialty exam and procedure rooms
• Behavioral health services
• Access for individuals and families to enroll in Medi-Cal, CalFresh and other
  programs
• Satellite offices for the District Attorney and Treasurer/Tax Collector

Media Contact

Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
[email protected]