A Historic Building Reimagined for Pediatric Care: Inside NEW Health in Boston’s North End
NEW Health has served families in Boston’s Charlestown, North End, and Waterfront neighborhoods for decades. To support the organization’s future needs, Wise Construction recently completed a 4,200 SF renovation at their North End location for the Pediatric Primary Care Department, creating seven new exam rooms, consult and med rooms, reception area, welcoming waiting spaces, a phlebotomy lab, upgraded building systems, offices, and more.
Located within a nearly 200-year-old building on Hanover Street, the project combined the challenges of occupied healthcare construction with the realities of renovating a historic structure. Diligent pre-planning, constant communication, and field-driven problem solving were essential to the successful completion of the project while also keeping the facility operational during construction.
Maintaining daily operations while construction progressed presented one of the project’s greatest challenges. The team installed temporary walls to separate construction activities from occupied areas and carefully sequenced work to minimize disruptions. High-noise activities were completed before patient appointments began, daily cleaning protocols prevented dust migration, and air quality monitoring on occupied floors provided an additional layer of protection.
Off-hours work became equally important. Structural reinforcement activities frequently required temporary room closures, making evening and weekend shifts essential to maintaining progress while limiting impacts on clinical operations. Regular coordination meetings between the construction team, healthcare staff, and project partners ensured operational needs could be addressed quickly.
Once demolition was complete, the team uncovered existing conditions that required significant structural reinforcement to support the new clinical equipment. Working within a building that had evolved over nearly two centuries demanded constant evaluation and field-driven problem solving. The reinforcing plan included new structural steel, engineered wood framing members, shoring posts, strengthened existing wood beams, and new columns throughout the space.
Wise Construction’s self-performing carpentry team played a central role in navigating these challenges. Leading the structural, framing, drywall, door, and ceiling scopes, the team worked seven days a week for six weeks to maintain the project schedule. Their ability to respond quickly to changing field conditions allowed solutions to be implemented in real time, reducing delays and maintaining momentum. Because the carpenters were fully integrated with project leadership, communication remained streamlined and decisions could be executed efficiently while upholding the project’s quality and safety standards.
The renovation also introduced significant infrastructure upgrades to support the clinic’s long-term operations. The project included a new gas water heater, 11 patient room sinks, a new ADA and bariatric restroom, a water bottle filling station, upgraded ductwork, and a new exhaust system. To support the redesigned layout, a major riser relocation extended through multiple levels of the building, connecting the attic, upper floors, and lower levels through a newly constructed chase wall.
The project’s location in the heart of the North End added another layer of complexity. With virtually no laydown area, limited parking, and constrained access along Hanover Street, material deliveries and structural installations required detailed logistical planning. Four early-morning crane picks were coordinated before heavy traffic started, allowing the necessary steel and lumber to be delivered and installed safely while minimizing disruption to the surrounding neighborhood.
Throughout construction, the team’s commitment extended beyond the work itself. Crews regularly assisted with maintaining safe access to the facility, whether by shoveling snow from entrances and fire exits, cleaning areas beyond their immediate work zones, or helping patients navigate our temporary pathways. These efforts reflected an understanding that construction teams working in healthcare environments become temporary members of the community they serve and play an important role in supporting the experience of patients, families, and staff.
The completed renovation delivers a modern pediatric care environment designed to support NEW Health’s mission while enhancing the experience of everyone who walks through its doors. More importantly, it demonstrates the value of thoughtful planning, proactive communication, skilled self-perform capabilities, and a team committed to adapting when challenges arise.
Thank you to our project collaborators:
NEW Health
Linea 5 Architects
NV5 Engineering
Structure North
Thank you to our project team:
Mark Gallagher
Andrew Cacciola
Wes Etienne
James Sebastian
Eddie Fantauzzi
Jason Morin
Nick Rosso
Jeanot Dube
Joe Douston
Joe LeFarrere
Photography: Robert Umenhofer
