COSSMA

COSSMA is a private nonprofit organization born from the need to provide medical services to migrant workers and their families in the region of Caguas, thus covering Cayey, Aibonito, Aguas Buenas, Cidras, Caguas, Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Juncos, Las Piedras, Maunabo, Naguabo, Humacao and Yabucoa municipalities. Founded in 1987, it started offering services to the general public in 1995. Since then, it has grown into modern medical facilities in the aforementioned municipalities. In 2017 Hurricane Maria destroyed its structure in San Lorenzo. The institution sought the services of V Architecture to design the new facilities that would substitute those destroyed by the storm.

V Architecture designed a very comfortable layout with a clean, contemporary look. The facilities are divided between two stories, totaling 18,375 gross square feet. The first floor consists of the main lobby, Customer Service area, Administrative offices, Pharmacy, Triage and Referral services, as well as space for the staff to eat and rest during breaks. The second story, accessed through an elevator or through two separate sets of stairs, has accommodations for General Medicine, Bio Social, a Laboratory, Dental, Vaccination, Pediatric, and Gynecology offices. It also has a large conference room for training or administrative meetings. The design also includes comfortable restrooms and waiting areas on both floors, and service areas for mechanical, electrical, and data rooms. Other amenities include two skylights that bring natural light to the interior, a balcony on the second floor, and numerous windows that provide pleasant visual interaction with the surrounding hills of San Lorenzo. A parking area consisting of 67 parking spaces is distributed within the site’s open space and a covered portion underneath part of the second level. All these facilities are conceived having in mind a rewarding architectural experience, through spatial relationships, form and finishes. The total construction cost is approximately $6MM.