By Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
Last Friday morning, dozens gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Wake County Public Health Center. The 154,000-square-foot facility, located at 200 Swinburne St., is set to officially open on February 23, just minutes from the original structure on Sunnybrook Road, which served the community for nearly 40 years.
The new four-story building features a five-level parking deck and a public lot with eight EV charging stations. Green spaces, outdoor shelters, benches, walking paths, and outdoor WiFi enhance the environment, while color-coordinated interiors are designed to improve efficiency and the patient experience. Security will be strengthened with metal detectors and staff, and visitors can check in at kiosks for various clinics.
Wake County Public Health offers a wide range of services in the new facility, including dental care, children’s, prenatal and women’s clinics, vaccinations, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, and other critical health services. Attendees received a tour of the center, which includes a centralized front desk, waiting areas tailored for small children, redesigned laboratory spaces, mobile staff work areas, and expanded dental treatment rooms equipped with the latest technology.
“That’s nearly a whole football field of space for our amazing providers to care for Wake residents. Within these four floors, staff will be able to serve 100 patients at a time. 88 exam rooms, 20 dental treatment rooms—that’s a good thing. Wake County public health served more than 205,000 patients in our clinics,” said Wake County Board Chair Don Mial.
Rebecca Kaufman, Director of Public Health for Wake County, emphasized the significance of the new facility: “Public health is a quiet, steady force that keeps Wake County safe, healthy and thriving. And this new center shows how essential that work is. This building will be home to our pediatric clinic. Family planning and prenatal clinic, dental, TB and refugee health, immunization, infectious disease and STD clinic, just to name a few.”
Officials describe the center as a major investment in both patient care and staff efficiency, designed to meet the needs of a growing population. Wake County is home to 1.2 million people, with an average of 66 new residents moving in each day.
Rep. Deborah Ross highlighted the federal support that made the project possible: she spoke about securing $2 million in funding, which President Biden signed into law as part of legislation passed in 2022. Construction of the new facility began in 2023 after years of planning, and many spaces remain empty as staff transition in preparation for the official opening.
The new center comes at a critical time for healthcare in North Carolina. Earlier this month, a House Select Committee on Involuntary Commitment and Public Safety met to discuss the state’s mental health system, focusing on outpatient versus inpatient care and potential improvements. Meanwhile, leaders from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services recently hosted a virtual town hall about implementing the Rural Health Transformation Program, funded through $50 billion in federal resources aimed at improving health outcomes in rural areas.
In addition to the public health center, Wake Radiology and UNC Health have received approval to establish a $5 million diagnostic center in Wendell, reflecting broader efforts to expand healthcare access in the rapidly growing county.
With the ribbon now cut, Wake County residents can look forward to accessing a modern, comprehensive healthcare facility designed to serve the community for decades to come.
