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Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy, a two-story health facility, has opened along the north Oregon coast, replacing a clinic that had served the region since the 1980s and significantly expanding access to medical, dental, and pharmacy services for rural communities.

Developed by the Nehalem Bay Health District, the center occupies a 16,154-square-foot building on a 1.3-acre hillside site at U.S. Highway 101 and Hospital Road in Wheeler. The facility was designed by Scott Edwards Architecture and constructed by Bremik Construction.

The center consolidates primary medical care, dental services, a full retail pharmacy, administrative offices, and consultation spaces under one roof. A second-floor community room and teaching kitchen support wellness education, nutrition programs, and community gatherings. The building replaces the former Rinehart Clinic.

鈥淒esign and construction of the Nehalem Bay Health Center and Pharmacy is the most sig-nificant health care project on Oregon鈥檚 north coast in many decades, providing vastly expanded pharmacy, health, dental, and behavioral care in a very rural area,鈥� noted Marc Johnson, president of the health district, in the Top Projects submission form.

Construction on the steeply sloped, highway-adjacent site posed significant challenges. The project team developed a detailed traffic control plan to manage deliveries, excavation, and utility crossings along Highway 101 while maintaining continuous access to a nearby care center. Coordination with Tillamook County ensured compliant safety measures throughout.

Environmental sensitivity near the Nehalem Bay River required carefully sequenced earth-work phased around weather windows to minimize erosion risk and protect adjacent wet-lands. The team also introduced a project banner with a QR code linking residents to weekly online construction updates, providing real-time information on milestones and neighborhood impacts.

Sustainability was addressed through durable, low-maintenance materials suited to coastal conditions, energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, and stormwater management measures designed to protect the nearby river. The gable roof was designed to be solar-ready for potential future use.

Place-based landscape architecture encourages use, including a boulder slab staircase with an illuminated handrail connecting the site to Highway 101, integrated seating, and native plantings. Local artists artwork is integrated throughout the space, including a sculpture in the lobby. Local photographer Justin Bailie incorporated large photographic panels within the interior architecture. The photographs are printed on wood and showcase nearby natural features.

The project achieved approximately 30 percent participation by minority-owned, women-owned, and small businesses. Nearly 20 percent of the work was performed by local firms within 25 miles of the Wheeler project site.