A former ADAP Auto Parts Store was transformed from an abandoned structure to state-of-the-art medical center in less than three months.

The center is complete with facilities for internal medicine, cardiology, pediatrics, OB/GYN, peripheral vascular procedures and minor surgeries.

Converting existing facilities is becoming a popular alternative beginning a new for physicians and office managers who appreciate the advantages of location, cost and turnaround time. Over the past 10 years the trend for medical establishments has been toward having larger numbers of practitioners working together in small square footage and to see that every inch of space counts.

The 8,500 square foot building houses an additional 3,500 square feet in the back that is suitable for future expansion needs. An additional feature is the inclusion of a lead lining in the walls that may be used eventually for X-rays or a women's diagnostic center. Caritas Medical Group is affiliated with St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston.

Kathy Bertoni, operations manager, said that community response to the transformation has been great. "The stylish exterior, complete with a wood-and-glass cupola, has really made people stop and look," she says. Everything from choosing the wallpaper and furniture and overseeing the construction was accomplished by By Design Healthcare Interiors.