Quality Comprehensive Health Center celebrated Friday, February 7, with the grand opening of Powerhouse 2.0 Next Generation at its new location at 1401 Beatties Ford Road, right next door to the School of the Arts.
Recognized as one of the leading hubs for HIV, STD and STI awareness, it’s located just a couple of blocks away from Quality’s central facility. The event kicked off at 3:00 p.m. and continued through 7:00 p.m. welcoming a sizable crowd that included staff, clients and community stakeholders who noshed on light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments while experiencing VIP tours of the new space, which is estimated to be around 2,200 square feet.
The new facility includes a lounge area, an over sized monitor for movie nights and various presentations, a conference room, a computer for access to the internet and an office for Quality Comprehensive/Powerhouse Director of Prevention Craymon Garner.
“The opening night went very well,” said Garner. “We were able to engage and incorporate some partnerships and there were [a number] of people there that already knew about us. They just wanted to come in and give a warm welcome and see if there was anything they could give us moving forward. That was greatly appreciated.”
Additional spaces in Powerhouse include staffing offices and two testing rooms, and it’s all located on one level.
One of the exciting new features available in the testing area for STD and STI tests is the Binx IO, which provides rapid and accurate test results in 30 minutes on a single visit. It is the first and only FDA cleared point of care platform that offers testing for both males and females and one of only a few available for quick test results in the Charlotte Metro area.
Says Garner of the facility’s new location: “It’s much more updated than the previous facility. I feel like it is more professional, more precise and clean and it’s more inviting. That makes people more likely to come in and say ‘hey, okay. I feel comfortable coming here to get tested.
“Since we’ve been in this building we see all types, all colors — you know, heterosexual, gay, bi, whatever. Anyone can come here and get tested.”
For more information on Powerhouse 2.0 visit their website at powerhousecharlotte.org or check out their Facebook page.
