{"id":779,"date":"2022-11-09T14:22:00","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T19:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/boudreauxgroup.com\/blog\/?p=779"},"modified":"2025-01-16T17:07:43","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T22:07:43","slug":"charles-r-drew-wellness-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/boudreauxgroup.com\/blog\/charles-r-drew-wellness-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles R. Drew Wellness Center"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For several decades The City of Columbia has had two public pools. Maxcy Gregg public pool, originally built for whites only and named for a confederate general, was built in 1949. Drew Park public pool, built shortly after Maxcy Gregg, was for African Americans only. Though both pools eventually were desegregated, divides remained. The New Wellness Center that has replaced Drew Pool contains the first public pool that the city has built in over 50 years. It is the first public pool to be open year-round and, most importantly, is the first public pool specifically intended to build<\/em> community by representing the common goal of the citizens of Columbia to embrace cultural diversity and shared civic pride. The thoughtful planning and bringing-to-life of the New Wellness Center represents a noteworthy new direction in the city\u2019s history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is Dr. Charles R. Drew<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>
\n

Drew Park was named after a pioneering African American doctor, Charles Richard Drew. Born June 3rd<\/sup>, 1904, in Washington, D.C., Drew was known as the \u201cFather of the Blood Bank\u201d by developing the enhanced storage of blood plasma and the quality of providing blood transfusions. His innovation of the production of human plasma at a large scale was utilized during World War II. During his life, Drew graduated from Amherst College where he was star athlete of their football team and became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Drew died April 1st<\/sup>, 1950, after suffering severe injuries due to a car crash and was pronounced dead at Cone Health Alamance Regional in Burlington, NC.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Charles R. Drew Wellness Center<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Conveniently located in the heart of the city and on one of Columbia\u2019s most heavily traveled streets, an appropriately chosen location for the New Wellness Center was an early goal of the project. The downtown site is adjacent to a revitalized, predominantly black, government subsidized neighborhood.  Since construction began, a large mixed-use neighborhood has been mastering planned across the street with access to the new Wellness Center as a specific design determinant.  With this vision, the site literally will bridge one of the city\u2019s oldest black communities to one of the city\u2019s newest planned communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A major objective of the New Wellness Center is to attract a wide variety of patrons from in and out of town, of all ages and backgrounds, and at all times of the day. The glassed-in and dramatically angled natatorium is the facility\u2019s most striking feature. Located at the end of the building that flanks one of the city\u2019s busiest streets, the natatorium beckons to passersby on their daily commutes. The high visibility and exciting appearance of the New Wellness Center is part of the goal to raise community interest and awareness of the facility\u2019s existence, and to serve as a visible reminder of positive lifestyle opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Programming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This 40,000 square foot, state-of-the-art wellness facility was designed around several key goals. These objectives include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n