Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital at Pease Opens

JSA Inc. has completed Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital at Pease, a new 33-bed, $11.3-million rehabilitation hospital in Portsmouth, N.H. The two-story, 46,160 square-foot facility brings needed specialty care to the seacoast region of New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts and southern Maine.

This facility, specializing in serving patients with brain and spinal injuries, provides a reassuring environment with easy access to numerous therapeutic opportunities and exposure to “activities of daily living” indoors and out. An indoor ADL gym includes a real car, a mock transit bus, a mini-movie theater, café, store, and salon. Outside, patients experience multiple walking surfaces, a footbridge, raised-planting beds, exercise equipments and a sports court. The first level features a soaring lobby, dining space with a large outdoor patio, additional PT space, hydro therapy, imaging facilities, a discreet ambulance entrance as well as supporting services.

The quiet upper level is dedicated to inpatients. Special rooms accommodate direct supervision, dialysis treatments, bariatric care and additional family support. Also on this level is another spacious PT gym, multiple day spaces, a dining room, a home-like transitional living apartment and direct access to two outdoor gardens. Special thought was given to orientation to allow morning light to the sleeping rooms, as requested by the chief neurologist to help establish circadian rhythms. Staff needs were addressed to allow maximum supervision even during the reduced night shift. Locker rooms, restrooms, quiet dictation space and a day lit lounge are centrally located to allow convenient access.

The project was built by North Branch Construction and the design team included VAD Inc (electrical), EDE (mechanical & plumbing), JSN (structural), HBLA (landscape architects) and Appledore Engineering (civil).