The Knox Clinic begins construction on the Bok Building this month, launching a transformative renovation project that marks a pivotal moment in the organization’s history and its ongoing expansion of affordable, community-centered healthcare in Midcoast Maine.

Having officially signed a contract with Bowman Constructors to lead this important and monumental project, the Knox Clinic is proud to partner with a trusted Maine-based company whose experience and commitment to quality will help ensure the renovation reflects both the historic character of the building and the Clinic’s long-term vision for integrated care.

Located in downtown Rockland on White Street, directly across from the Rockland Public Library, the Bok Building sits at the heart of the community. Its central, walkable location makes it an ideal site for a community health center; accessible to residents, visible to visitors, and embedded in the daily life of the city. The location reinforces the Clinic’s dedication to providing healthcare that is integrated into the fabric of the community it serves.

Phase 1 of this project will modernize the building’s heating and cooling systems, renovate the basement into a flexible meeting and community space, and add multiple dental operatories, bringing all Knox Clinic services under one roof for the first time. The expansion will strengthen care coordination across medical, dental, mental health, and wellness services while creating new opportunities for community programming and collaboration.

The renovation follows the Knox Clinic’s purchase of the Bok Building at the end of 2024, a historic step for the organization. For more than 25 years, the Clinic operated out of donated office space in the building while providing part-time care to the community. Owning the space has allowed the Clinic to invest in long-term infrastructure, stability, and growth, ensuring that accessible healthcare in the region is not temporary, but permanent.

“After 25 years of providing care out of donated space, owning and investing in this building is a powerful statement about what this community believes in—that preventative healthcare should be affordable, integrated, and available to everyone," said Meredith Batley, Executive Director of Knox Clinic.

This expansion is a direct response to the growing need for healthcare, in which cost is never a barrier. The Knox Clinic now serves patients of all ages and accepts all incomes and insurances, with sliding-scale discount options available. As demand for low-barrier care continues to rise, the renovated Bok Building will allow the Clinic to meet that need more fully.

By consolidating services and creating a dedicated community space, the project reflects a broader vision of healthcare as something that happens both inside and beyond exam rooms. The renovation positions the Knox Clinic to expand clinical capacity, deepen partnerships, and continue addressing community health in a holistic and integrated way.

Construction on the Bok Building represents not only a physical transformation but a turning point in the Knox Clinic’s evolution, from primary care in donated space one night a week to a full-time community health center prepared to serve the region for decades to come.

The Knox Clinic currently has no waitlist for primary care; those interested in becoming a patient can call 207-680-4545 to schedule an appointment.

Community members interested in supporting this expansion can learn more or make a contribution by visiting knoxclinic.org/donate or contacting Meredith Batley, Executive Director, at meredith@knoxclinic.org

About the Knox Clinic:

For over 26 years, the Knox Clinic has provided affordable, accessible healthcare to Midcoast Maine residents. What began as a volunteer-driven part-time clinic has grown into a nonprofit health center offering full-time medical, dental, mental health, and wellness services. The Clinic serves patients of all ages, accepts all major insurances—including MaineCare and Medicare—and offers sliding-scale options. Through continued growth and community partnership, the Knox Clinic remains committed to addressing health needs with dignity, equity, and compassion.