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Visitors to the North County Wellness Center will be greeted in a bright, naturally lit reception area with natural wood walls and windows overlooking a garden. They will be directed through wide hallways to a health clinic, dental suite and private areas where they can learn about and apply for health insurance, nutritional assistance and additional social services.
Local officials and county leaders have broken ground on the ambitious $132.5 million center, which will be located at 1024 Mission Road, near BART and SamTrans stations.
“This center brings essential services closer to 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 completed, individuals and families across North County will be able to meet with specialists to verify their eligibility and apply for assistance for programs like CalFresh and low-cost child care, all under one roof," she said.
When it opens in 2026, the center’s clinics will primarily serve individuals and families who receive care for or are eligible for Medi-Cal, which offers free or low-cost programs.
In addition to the services provided by the County Health Department and 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, uses a large amount of natural wood instead of the synthetic materials commonly found in paneling and ceiling tiles.
"We want to create an environment where people are happy or feel encouraged to be here," said Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman David Canepa, whose District 5 includes areas of South San Francisco.
"People can come here with a lot of stress: they are here to see a doctor or to seek some kind of public assistance. We want to avoid that feeling that you get in so many public buildings, where the concrete walls, the poor lighting and the narrow rooms seem to crush you," he said.
County officials were joined at the groundbreaking ceremony by local officials and civic leaders.
The Wellness Center will be one of the first healthcare buildings constructed from cross-laminated timber, which consists of layers of wood bonded together with adhesives.
Timber construction and the inclusion of electric vehicle chargers, bicycle parking, native plants, solar power stations and other sustainable features put the County on track to achieve LEED Gold Certification.
Funding for this new facility comes from the County General Fund and Measure K, the countywide half-cent sales tax that provides local funding for local needs.
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