The Peabody Family Health Center at 89 Foster St. has officially reopened its doors after a months-long renovation and expansion project aimed at improving access to health care on the North Shore.
Operated by North Shore Community Health, Inc. (NSCHI), the nonprofit health center provides affordable primary care services to residents regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. The recent construction doubled down on that mission by reconfiguring and expanding clinical space to meet increasing patient demand.
Renovations, carried out by Kaplan Construction, were completed in two phases to allow the center to remain open throughout the process. The phased approach included careful coordination to avoid disrupting patient visits and clinic operations — even scheduling noisy demolition work outside of regular hours.
“We were really intentional about making sure this was a seamless transition for both our staff and the community,” said Margaret Brennan, president and CEO of NSCHI. “The expanded space allows us to better serve our growing patient base and support modern healthcare needs like telehealth.”
The first phase of the project added a 2,000 square foot area with a new reception area, administrative space, a staff break room, patient restrooms, and infrastructure for virtual care. That expansion paved the way for phase two, which involved rebuilding the original check-in area and constructing eight new exam rooms, a procedure room, and clinical support areas totaling roughly 3,500 square feet.
Construction challenges — including complex plumbing upgrades that required slab removal — were completed without delays. Updated lighting, fire safety, and accessibility improvements were also incorporated into the redesigned space.
The Peabody location is one of several operated by NSCHI across the region, with a focus on community-based care in underserved areas. The expanded Foster Street clinic is now better equipped to meet that mission.
“This renovation not only improves patient flow and comfort,” Brennan said, “it also reflects our continued commitment to high-quality, compassionate care in Peabody and beyond.”
The project team included SAR+ as the owner’s representative, LiRo-Hill as architect, Haley Ward, Inc. for engineering, and Kaplan Construction as general contractor.
