MASS design group: GHESKIO cholera treatment center in underway in haiti

‘GHESKIO cholera treatment center’ by MASS design group, haitiall images courtesy of MASS design group

boston-based non profit firm MASS design group is in the midst of constructing the new GHESKIO cholera treatment center in downtown port-au-prince, haiti. while GHESKIO was the first institution in the world dedicated to the fight against HIV/AIDS, the organization continues its healthcare-centered, humanitarian efforts in haiti, especially in the wake of natural disasters that ravaged the country.

the architecture is designed to serve as a replicable model for clinics across the nation, employing a wastewater purification system that prevents re-contamination of the water table and will sanitize 250,000 gallons of water a year. the aim is to break the cycle of cholera infection at its source.the facility is fully day-lit and passively ventilated with a network of screens. the center sets a new precedent for healthcare delivery and quality construction, bolstered by a complementary building process that hires locally, uses local materials and makes use of a training program. thus far the project has created 80 new jobs and has distributed more than 161, 000 USD into the local economy.

rendering of the passive ventilation system on the exteriorimage courtesy of MASS design group

screen viewimage courtesy of MASS design group

site viewimage courtesy of MASS design group

 image courtesy of MASS design group

framework viewimage courtesy of MASS design group

foundation settingimage courtesy of MASS design group

trenches dug for foundationimage courtesy of MASS design group

local apprentices have been hired for constructionimage courtesy of MASS design group

view of an affected areaimage courtesy of MASS design group