Johnson County celebrates Health Services Building groundbreaking
Left to right: Commissioner Jeff Meyers, Commissioner Michael Ashcraft, Commissioner Julie Brewer, Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick, Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly, Commissioner Becky Fast and Deputy County Manager Julie Karins
Johnson County Government officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Aug. 22 to celebrate work beginning on a new Health Services Building, located at the county’s Sunset Drive campus at 119th Street and Ridgeview Road in Olathe.
Scheduled for completion in October 2027, this facility will bring together under one roof three departments that are focused on the health and wellbeing of Johnson County residents.
Attendees at the ceremony heard remarks from Board of County Commissioners Chairman Mike Kelly, Facilities Director Tony Barron, Department of Health and Environment Director Charlie Hunt, Mental Health Deputy Director Liz Worth and Aging and Human Services Director Tim Wholf. Among the attendees were clients who have received services from the county departments that will eventually be housed within the facility.
The Health Services Building will bring together services from the Johnson County Mental Health Center, the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment and Johnson County Aging and Human Services.
Spanning 140,000 square feet, this facility will include private consultation spaces, multi-purpose rooms to support group therapy and community health events, increased daylight and connection to nature, and welcoming features that promote wellbeing, comfort and dignity. About 30% of the total square footage will be collaborative workspaces to promote teamwork and communication among the different departments.
In addition to an adaptable and flexible design that accommodates future growth and changes in service needs, the facility has been designed to be LEED-certified, a designation provided by the U.S. Green Building Council to mean “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.”
The Health Services Building includes enhanced energy efficient and cost-conscious sustainability features, including a water reclamation system which will save approximately 232,000 gallons of fresh water each year and rooftop solar panels that will cover 70% of the roof and produce nearly 100% of the building’s electrical demand.
Learn more about the Health Services Building construction project online.