Architect’s rendering of the new Mazzoni Center facility at 801 Locust St.

After an 18-month search for a new location, Philadelphia’s only GLBT health center will branch out to create a new facility that will better meet the community’s growing needs.

Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit Shein signed a lease July 18 enabling the center to expand its health services by opening a family and community medicine practice at 801 Locust St.

Shein said the center has outgrown its current health facility.

“Last year we had about 300 visits to the center per month,” she said. “This year, we have around 550 visits per month. As the volume of people coming to the center is doubling, we need the physical space to accommodate them. This new space will allow us to create a state-of-the-art, welcoming, nonjudgmental environment that this community needs and deserves.”

The center will remain at its original 1201 Chestnut St. location, continuing to provide counseling, case management, social work and other GLBT community services, but will operate its health services (currently located on the third floor) from the new facility.

Construction of the 4,000-square-foot space at 801 Locust St. — which is now occupied by a fertility clinic — begins Aug. 1, said Dave Rumsey, the center’s communications director.

Rumsey said he expects the new practice to open by late October or early November.

“Since the building is occupied by a medical facility now, construction time won’t be as extensive,” he said.

The practice will share the new space with Walgreen’s Pharmacy, which will provide specialty-care drugs tailored to the GLBT community.

“This will provide a great service for our patients,” Rumsey said. “Our HIV/AIDS or transgender patients can have a prescription written for them by their healthcare provider and then have it filled right away at the same location.”

The new facility also will feature eight exam rooms, a notable increase from the present location’s two rooms.

“With this expansion we’ll be able to see more patients at the same time,” Shein said. “And when you’re sick, you don’t want to wait for an appointment. We’ll be able to have longer hours and be open evenings and weekends.”

Shein said the expansion will allow the center’s medical staff to increase their hours as well.

Dr. Nancy Brisbon, a women’s health specialist who currently works part-time at the center, will join medical director Dr. Robert Winn as a full-time physician at the new facility.

Additionally, Dr. Peter Katsufrakis, an HIV/AIDS specialist with 15 years of experience, will volunteer his services to the center.

“This will allow us to build a practice that will have the experience and expertise to respond to the needs of the community,” Shein said.

EXPANDING HORIZONS: Mazzoni Center executive director Nurit Shein, with medical director Dr. Robert Winn, signed the lease for a new facility for the GLBT health center on July 18. Shein hopes to move the center’s health services to 801 Locust St. by mid-fall. Photo: Dave Rumsey

Dr. Winn said the expansion will also allow the center to recruit a wider patient base, including lesbian and bisexual women.

“This is something we’ve wanted to do for quite some time,” he said. “But we’ve never had the space for it.”

Winn added that the new practice will enable clinicians and doctors to use updated equipment and offer patients alternative medicine.

“There are clinicians who want to provide massage therapy and other alternative medicine for a very low fee or for free, but again, it’s something we’ve never had the space to do,” he said.

Shein said funding for the expansion is coming from several constituents.

“A lot of it is coming from fundraising — some of which we’re doing quietly, and some that we’re doing more visibly,” she said. “Several individuals are also donating funds for exam rooms. We’re getting some generous donations from the community. Funding is also coming from existing grants we receive from the city. And about 40 percent of our patients are insured, so we are able to bill insurance for funding.”

Shein emphasized that the new facility will focus on the needs of the community as a whole.

“This is a space that will bring honor and dignity to the community,” she said. “It’s for the insured and uninsured — people who can go to any doctor’s office and people who can’t. What we’re creating here is a space that will work for everyone. We want everyone to feel welcome. It will have a very professional look, but it won’t feel intimidating. We’re so excited about this.”