EXPANSION AND RENOVATION

The Wellness Center is undergoing a major renovation, seismic reinforcement and expansion to include use of all six floors of the building. The initial architectural plans were conceived and coordinated by two US architect volunteers, Vartkess Balian (a well-known architect & builder in the DC Metro area) and Osep Sarafian (a retired architect from Detroit-based Yamasaki Group) in consultation with architectural, structural and seismic reinforcement companies in the US and Armenia. When complete in 2010, the current Wellness Center building will be a state-of-the-art Primary Health Care facility built in accordance with Western building standards and norms.

Click here to learn more about the Center’s expanded services.

The Wellness Center will utilize ecologically clean and renewable energy from an onsite power station combining solar energy with an innovative system known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP). This will provide the Center with a reliable and economical source of 120KW energy. Of this, 10KW of photovoltaic (PV) power will be utilized as part of a grid-connected system to be shared with the Yerevan municipality after working hours - a first in the entire former Soviet Union.

California-based FYFE Company was retained to seismically reinforce the Wellness Center’s structure utilizing TYFO® fiber wrap installation techniques around the columns. Additional concrete slabs were poured on each floor and new exterior retaining walls were built five stories high (removing existing exterior walls) to render the building a monolithic structure to ensure its earthquake resistance.

Click here for more details about the construction efforts.

The construction/renovation/expansion and seismic reinforcement is being primarily financed by Armenian-American grassroots and major donors through the Armenian American Cultural Association (AACA) and a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through its American Schools and Hospital Abroad (ASHA) Division.

AACA, as the US initiator and sponsor of the AAWC, has also worked tirelessly to raise funds through organizations, family foundations, and individual Armenian Americans, and invites additional donors to participate in this monumental, life-saving mission.