NEW YORK — JRM Construction Management has completed a significant milestone in healthcare workplace design with the unveiling of the new Employee Wellness Center at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a globally renowned institution specializing in musculoskeletal health.
The 5,400-square-foot facility, located in the heart of Manhattan, was designed as a comprehensive wellness destination for HSS employees. Created in collaboration with Mapos Architects and R.G. Vanderweil Engineers, the center provides a calming, restorative environment tailored to support both the mental and physical wellbeing of healthcare workers — a group often impacted by stress, long hours, and burnout.
The project includes a wide variety of wellness amenities: a multi-purpose training room for group fitness classes like yoga and HIIT, hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers to promote cellular recovery, a sensory-focused recharge room custom-designed by Studio Elsewhere, and a peaceful reflecting and reading area. These offerings are meant to give every staff member — from physicians to administrative support — access to tools that promote resilience and self-care.
“Our entire team at JRM is honored to collaborate with HSS to create a space that champions the wellness of those who devote their lives to caring for others,” said Joseph Romano, CEO at JRM Construction Management. “We believe that the HSS Wellness Center will not only enhance day-to-day staff wellbeing but also foster a workplace culture where employees feel recognized and supported.”
In addition to wellness programming, the construction team upgraded the building’s infrastructure to meet the facility’s unique demands. JRM implemented new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, installed a new air handling unit (AHU), and applied high-end finishes including custom wood veneer, plastic laminate millwork, and cork board paneling — emphasizing both functionality and aesthetics.
Designed with inclusivity and flexibility in mind, the center supports HSS's broader mission of providing exceptional care not just to patients, but to those delivering it.
By integrating holistic health elements into the workplace, the facility acknowledges the long-term importance of addressing healthcare worker fatigue, stress, and emotional exhaustion — issues that have become even more pronounced since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Wellness Center reflects HSS leadership’s ongoing investment in its people. “We wanted to create something that was not only practical and accessible, but inspiring,” said a representative from HSS. “Our employees are at the core of our mission, and this center represents a way to give back to them in a meaningful and lasting way.”
From custom-designed wellness experiences to advanced therapeutic environments, the Wellness Center redefines what support for frontline caregivers looks like — not just as an added benefit, but as an essential component of hospital infrastructure.
Originally reported by Sunny Khan in Construction Dive.