The new 30,000 square foot warehouse in Gloucester allows BHI to expand its global logistics and operations.

Designing and building healthcare infrastructure in resource-constrained settings requires advanced logistics and supply chain management. Which is why a warehouse is critical to the success of Build Health International’s projects. 

BHI recently consolidated its Beverly, New Bedford, and Plaistow warehouses to a new 30,000 square foot facility in Gloucester. The expansion connects the Greater Boston area’s renowned medical hub and construction companies that are focused on sustainability and community relations to international healthcare spaces throughout the globe. 

A Unique Approach to Healthcare

By serving as a central hub for project operations, a streamlined and comprehensive warehouse space effectively answers the following questions: How can we build more with less? What in-kind support can further impact our partners delivering critical care? How can we maximize and leverage local expertise in the greater Boston area? For nearly a decade, BHI’s warehouse has remained the heart of the organization’s operations–and continues to underline commitment to sustainability. Organizational partners—from Boston’s largest hospitals to local and national construction companies—contribute in-kind assets and materials, ranging from biomedical equipment and medicines to construction and plumbing materials. These materials are collected by BHI staff, then stored at the Gloucester facility. There, they are organized, packed, and repurposed to healthcare facilities throughout Haiti, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and global sites. 

Increased Capacity 

Spanning 30,000 square feet with six distinct areas for storage, training, and equipment testing, BHI’s warehouse is equipped to receive large and often complex shipments. The Gloucester space is temperature-controlled, which allows medications and supplies to be safely received, stored, and shipped to various destinations. Limited space in the previous Beverly location meant that BHI warehouse staff could only pack two containers at a time. In Gloucester, up to five containers can be packed concurrently, and increased ceiling height allows for vertical packing, which increases the overall volume of items that are shipped. Wide interior lanes and advanced hoisting and pallet handling equipment ensure seamless item handling. Furthermore, as materials enter and exit the warehouse, two dedicated loading docks equipped with levelers enable easier unloading and loading. All of these critical changes increase and promote operational efficiency. 

Multidisciplinary Purposes 

In addition to more space and efficiency, the new warehouse provides office spaces for BHI’s growing team while serving our partners in various capacities. A designated biomedical space allows biomedical engineers to assess, test, repair, and prepare medical equipment that can then be shipped to where it is most needed. Training spaces allow for advanced troubleshooting on oxygen equipment that is critical for reliable delivery to patients across low-resource settings and preparation of essential tool kits which help in the sustainability and maintenance of equipment around the world. Furthermore, a new conference room connects BHI project managers and international team members, encouraging advanced collaboration on upcoming projects and managing logistics.

As of January 2024, the Build Health International Gloucester warehouse soft opened and is fully operational. We are excited to build upon and enhance our working logistical systems and approaches within the coming months.

For more information on how our warehouse operates, tours, or to make an in-kind contribution, please contact development@buildhealthinternational.org.