Walden Qualifies for Dover Project at Marist Property

• Program of space requirements as prepared by GMI Architects
• Schedules of educational programs prepared by Walden Center for Education
• Bowditch & Dewey narrative of the project
• Bowditch & Dewey narrative and explanation of staff roles and responsibilities
• Floor plans submitted by the architects
• Use & occupancy classification report prepared by the architects
• Building permit application submitted

The first (non-Dover)  plan called for a main building for inpatient care with 24 beds for patients with eating disorders, 24 beds for patients with mood disorders and offices for 20 Walden staff. Plus a smaller building with offices for human resources, finance, billing and accounting departments. Walden then planned to apply for a 16-bed residential two-story, 12,000-square-foot facility to treat adults who are obese or have binge-eating disorder, a 16-bed, 12,000-square-foot two-story residential facility for adolescents and a 10,000-square-foot, one-story building for program offices, and intake and aftercare services.

The new Dover plan includes the old plan plus construction of a Center for Research and Education.

A therapeutic and educational on-site program would allow adolescents and adults to learn strategies and techniques to fully recover from their disorders, wrote Walden's lawyers in the letter to the Town of Framingham.

While treatment will still be provided under the Walden Center plan, an emphasis will be placed on education and research.

“Even within the medical community, much needs to be learned about eating disorders, which affect about five percent of the population and a much larger percentage when you include individuals with weight management issues,” said Stuart Koman, who serves as President and CEO of both the Walden Center and Walden Behavioral Care in a press release.  “Our focus on education and research will, we hope lead to a greater understanding of eating disorders and a higher rate of recovery.”

Koman said Walden will continue to work with Framingham residents and town officials to address any concerns that have, adding, “We will be good neighbors.”

The non-profit Walden Center was created more than a year ago because of the need for greater education and research in the field of neurobehavioral disorders, such as eating disorders and mood disorders, Koman said.  Articles of organization for the nonprofit group were initially filed in 2002.

Walden Center’s education programs include:

• The School-Based Eating Disorder Prevention Program, which provides educational presentations to middle schools and high schools throughout New England.

Koman said the project will maintain the natural setting of The Marist Center, with a significant amount of open space and an aesthetically attractive campus.  The project will also contribute to the local economy by adding new jobs, while providing a much needed service that previously was unavailable in Framingham.

Walden has already begun to reach out to Framingham schools to help educate students about eating disorders and will continue to do so, Koman said.

“We remain committed to bringing a world-class facility to MetroWest and believe this project can do much good for the Town of Framingham,” he said.  “It will create jobs, preserve and enhance an important piece of property, and serve the needs of the community.”

Framingham Patch first reported in May of Walden's plans to come to Framingham and purchase and develop the Marist property.