December 13, 2025
VI Department of Health to Break Ground on the Donna M. Christian Christensen, MD, Health Center
St. Croix, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — The Virgin Islands Department of Health will hold a groundbreaking ceremony at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 16, marking the official start of construction on the Donna M. Christian Christensen, MD, Health Center, formerly known as the Charles Harwood Memorial Complex, at Estate Richmond.
“This ceremony represents a significant milestone in the Territory’s long-term recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and in the rebuilding of our public health infrastructure,” said Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion. “It signals a new era of modern and community-centered public health services on St. Croix.”
The construction of the Health Center is being led by the Consigli/Benton Joint Venture, a partnership that brings together national expertise, local experience, and a shared commitment to building resilient public-health infrastructure for the Virgin Islands.
“This facility is a lifeline for community health and wellness, and we are committed to building a state-of-the-art facility that the people of this Territory deserve,” said James Benton, Principal-in-Charge of Consigli/Benton Joint Venture. “Our team is proud to help bring this vision to life and to once again deliver another quality facility for the Virgin Islands Department of Health.”
In 2023, J. Benton Construction also completed the rebuild of the department’s new Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Building on St. Thomas.
The new Health Center will replace the former Charles Harwood Memorial Complex, which sustained catastrophic damage during the 2017 hurricanes and was deemed beyond repair by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In 2022, federal funding was obligated for the full demolition and replacement of the complex. Between 2023 and 2024, demolition of the former facility occurred in phased operations.
Over the past few years, the Department of Health’s leadership has worked closely with Flad Architects, the project’s design partner, to reimagine the campus as a modern public health facility. Architectural design for the project emphasizes resilience, functionality, and strong community connection.
“The goal is to honor the culture and blend in cutting-edge technology to create an inspiring, forward-thinking public health facility for the Territory and community,” said Steve Jackson, Principal at Flad Architects and lead designer of the Health Center.
Design refinement and planning continue under Flad Architects in partnership with the VI Department of Health and the Virgin Islands Office of Disaster Recovery.
The new Health Center is designed to consolidate the VI Department of Health’s programs into a single, state-of-the-art campus built to withstand future storms and support expanded public health services. The facility will feature dedicated spaces for behavioral health services, a healthy-living demonstration kitchen, outdoor patio areas, and a conference and training center.
The facility is named in honor of Dr. Donna M. Christian Christensen, a Virgin Islands physician and the first woman to serve as the U.S. Virgin Islands Delegate to Congress.
“This moment is deeply meaningful — both personally and professionally,” Commissioner Encarnacion added. “The Charles Harwood campus shaped my early journey in healthcare. We are honoring that history while taking a decisive step toward a stronger public health future for the people of the Virgin Islands.”
The project is supported through federal recovery funding and is being delivered in close coordination with ODR and key federal partners. Completion of the Donna M. Christian Christensen, MD Health Center is projected for 2028.
