Bringing in the light – Community celebrates Vera French building

Chris McCormick looked over the modern, comfortable and well-lit new addition to the Vera French Community Mental Health building at 1441 W. Central Park, Davenport. The new $2 million addition is a stark contrast to how mental health facilities looked years ago. There was a time when those facilities were built far away from communities. […]

Chris McCormick looked over the modern, comfortable and well-lit new addition to the Vera French Community Mental Health building at 1441 W. Central Park, Davenport. The new $2 million addition is a stark contrast to how mental health facilities looked years ago. There was a time when those facilities were built far away from communities. They had small windows that were partially covered with iron bars. They gave everybody who entered the buildings a dark, unwelcoming vibe, said Ms. McCormick, who worked for Vera French since 1975 and recently retired as its clinical director.

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The expanded mental health facility reflects the goals of the building’s namesake – the late Dr. Vera French – who wanted “openness and transparency. …. She had a dream of a welcoming building,” Ms. McCormick said Friday, April 25, during a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially welcome the expanded mental health care facility to the community. More than 100 people attended the ceremony to celebrate the addition of more than 3,000 square feet of space to the building. There were so many on hand that dozens of people were standing in the front lobby and the connecting stairwell during the event. The centerpiece of the ceremony was the new building addition, which was completed and open to Vera French staff and patients in February. Several Vera French workers said the new space has been a big hit with people. “It’s a good open and breathable space. We get people who come in and just sit and enjoy the views. … We’ve had nothing but positive things said about it,” said Kayla Veto, marketing and communications coordinator for Vera French. Several others attending the ceremony said they enjoyed seeing the light brought in by the large windows at the front of the building. “Just look at all of this. Isn’t it beautiful?” said Ken Beck, a member of the Scott County Board of Supervisors. Here are some of the features of the renovated building:

• The project renovated the building’s former 1,206 square feet of office space as well as expanded with 3,133 square feet of additional space. The new space includes a storefront entrance, two intake rooms, reception and waiting areas and parking lot upgrades.
• The new addition has heavy laminated timber beams, columns and purlins. The new exterior walls feature full height glass. Also, the new main entry lobby provides an ADA accessible entrance. During Friday's ceremony, Melissa Morse of Streamline Architects, East Moline, said the new waiting area created on the front is “more like a community living room space.”
• The front entrance boasts a display outlining the history of the mental health facility, and information on the facility’s namesake, the late Dr. French. That information also was on display last April during a ground-breaking ceremony for the new addition.
• This expansion is part of ongoing renovation and modernization efforts that Vera French Clinic has undertaken since its 50th anniversary rededication in October 2021. Following the expansion, Vera French will complete renovations by updating the building’s original windows, stabilizing exterior masonry, replacing the building’s roof and completing other renovations. Fund development efforts are underway for the remaining renovations needed to keep the Vera French Clinic at Central Park in service well into the 2030s and beyond.
• The partners teaming with Vera French on the project include: Russell, Streamline Architects, Carr Engineering and Townsend Engineering.
• Center hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. It can be reached at (563) 383-1900.

  During Friday’s ceremony, Dr. Richard Whitaker Jr., CEO of  Vera French, said the expanded  building project is much more than creating more space and a modern facility. It’s also about creating a space that will make patients feel more welcome, and achieving Dr. French’s top goal  of making their treatment “normal and comfortable,” he added. “This place is also about showing folks that they matter and their experience matters,” said Dr. Erica Thomas, chairman of the Vera French Community Mental Health Center Board of Directors. Others at the ribbon-cutting ceremony noted that the bright new space in the health building is a great metaphor for helping people in need. “This brings light into these important matters,” said Marion Meginnis, Davenport 3rd Ward alderman and mayor pro-tem. Meanwhile, construction continues on Vera French’s new housing development known as Carol’s Gardens Village on Harrison Street in downtown Davenport.  In addition to celebrating the new addition, officials also used the event as a chance to praise the Vera French staff. “We have the best staff in the state, maybe the country…. helping people to succeed,” said Dr. Whitaker. On Friday, the CEO added that  a new program is in the works to help people struggling with mental health issues succeed in life. Beginning Friday, Aug. 1, a program called “Just In Time” will launch at Vera French. That program focuses on quickly providing support and resources to patients.  One of the benefits of the program is that it will help patients get needed medications in just a few days, instead of waiting weeks or months, he added.