Damien Center Breaks Ground on State-of-the-Art Facility; Will Create a Multi-building Damien Center Campus

The Damien Center today held a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of construction on the organization’s new headquarters on the Near East Side of Indianapolis. The new state-of-the-art facility will enable the Damien Center to expand and enhance its one-stop-shop model of comprehensive HIV medical care that provides clients the fundamental necessities for living a sustainable and secure life.

Since 1987, the Damien Center has served as Indiana’s largest AIDS Service Organization (ASO) by providing services to more than 25% of all individuals living with HIV in the state. Last year, the Center cared for 6,500 unique clients, more than double the number of clients served six years ago.

“This is an exciting day for the Damien Center,” said Alan Witchey, president and CEO at the Damien Center. “The new facility will help us expand and introduce new programs and services that break down barriers and allow our team to provide quality, equitable, and inclusive care.”

The planned 56,000 square foot three-story building will be located at the corner of East Washington St. and Oriental Ave., adjacent to the Damien Center’s existing building at 26 N. Arsenal Ave., Indianapolis. The new facility will include a larger Damien Cares clinic with multiple exam rooms, new dental and vision services, a lab, and an expanded food pantry and pharmacy. The Damien Center will also be able to expand their current youth programming, housing, prevention, and harm reduction programs and introduce up to 10 new programs and services with the additional square footage.

A multi-building Damien Center campus will be created within the geographic epicenter of the HIV epidemic once the new facility is complete. The organization will continue to utilize their current building at 26 N. Arsenal Ave., and a task force is currently deciding how to best utilize the building in the future. The Center has also purchased the former Zonie’s Closet building at 1446 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. This building is currently under renovation and will used to offer workforce development programming for Damien Center clients.

“The Damien Center has been a pillar in the Indianapolis community for more than three decades,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “A new state-of-the-art headquarters is an opportunity for greater access to fundamental services. Plus, not only will it improve the lives of Damien Center clients, but it will also positively impact the lives of all neighbors who live, work, and play on the near eastside.”

“The Damien Center has a long-standing history of working to address HIV in Marion County,” said Virginia A. Caine, M.D, director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department. “It was quick to react to the impending AIDS epidemic and was the first organization to step up as a host site for our Safe Syringe Access and Support mobile unit when it launched in 2019. The One Home campaign provides The Damien Center an opportunity to further expand services and resources needed to help end HIV and make a positive difference in the lives of residents and our community.”

Olympic diving legend Greg Louganis is also supporting the fundraising campaign. In fact, he is auctioning three of his Olympic medals to help finance the new Welcome Center named in memory of Ryan White, the Indiana teenager who fought to attend school after becoming HIV positive through a blood transfusion. The auction runs through March 31 on greglouganis.com.

“The medals, they’re in the history books,” Louganis said. “Instead of holding on to them, I’m aiming to share my piece of Olympic history with collectors; together, we can help the Damien Center and its community to grow and thrive.”

Additionally, Louganis is donating a sculpture of White to The Damien Center. Created by artist Bill Mack, “Hope” was a limited-edition series; Mack gave one sculpture each to Louganis, Elton John, Elizabeth Taylor, and Michael Jackson.

“The day we unveil the Welcome Center to honor Ryan White, my friend, will mark one of the most important milestones in my life,” Louganis said.

The $34 million construction project is being funded through existing equity, new market tax credits, private gifts, and other sources. The One Home capital campaign launched successfully in September 2022 in large part due to a grant award from The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, which supported the project with a $500K matching gift. To date, $3.4 million has been raised through the campaign.

Design and construction for the project is being led by Axis Architecture and The Skillman Corporation and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

To learn more or to contribute, visit www.damien.org or www.damienonehome.org.

Media Assets: Renderings and an animated flythrough video of the Damien Center’s new facility are available here.

About Damien Center:

Damien Center is Indiana’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization and leads the effort to prevent the spread of HIV. The Center opened in 1987 and offers a one-stop-shop model of care that includes preventive, supportive, and medical services that empowers people in Central Indiana affected by HIV/AIDS to move forward each day with dignity so they may live abundant and productive lives. Damien Center believes passionately in the dignity and worth of every person who seeks their services and strives to be a safe and welcoming place so that no barriers separate people from the services they need to prolong and enhance their lives. For more information visit: http://www.damien.org or follow them on Twitter at @DamienCenter or like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theda....