Memorial Hospital of Union County will start construction this fall on a $7.5-million project that will include a new medical office building at 120 Coleman’s Crossing Blvd.
The 35,000-square-foot, two-story building will be developed by the Pizzuti Companies. It will house the hospital’s urgent care, imaging, physical therapy and sports medicine services, the Marysville Orthopedics and Sports Medicine practice, and provide space for advanced performance training offered by Memorial’s Elevate Sports Medicine.
According to information from the hospital, its urgent care facility opened in 2006 and continues to experience significant growth, which is what prompted development of the new building.
“In fact, 2012 proved to be our busiest year on record, with nearly 16,000 visits to the urgent care,” said Chip Hubbs, MHUC president and CEO. “The thought and careful planning we are putting into the design of this new building will result in an extraordinary facility as well — one with the patient experience at the heart of every element, from registration to treatment.”
The Aug. 1 announcement came a little more than a month after Nationwide Children’s Hospital received approval from the Marysville Design Review Board for its conceptual renderings for a Close to Home Center with Urgent Care facility.
While the two projects are not related, both facilities will be built in the City Gate area.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Close to Home Center at 100 Coleman’s Crossing Blvd. is a $4.6-million project. It is a 20,800-square-foot facility planned for 2.4 acres. It is expected to create 40 new jobs, accompanied by an investment of approximately $6 million in capital for the building, with about $2 million annually in salaries and benefits.
Memorial Hospital officials said they do not yet have job projections for their new medical office building. Plans are to open in the fall of 2014.
Nationwide plans to break ground within the next two weeks and open in the spring of 2014.
Melanie Ziegler, director of marketing, public relations and development for Memorial Hospital, said the City Gate area has been on the hospital’s radar for quite some time.
“Memorial has been considering the need to relocate our urgent care services,” she said. “Years ago, the City Gate location was identified as a preferred location for expansion. Patients desire accessibility and visibility, and this location provides for both.”
Pam Barber, director of media relations for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, said officials there were not aware of MHUC’s plans when the Marysville site was acquired last year.
“While we were not aware of MHUC’s plans when we purchased the land last year, we welcome them joining us at this location,” Barber said. “We are currently co-located with other adult hospitals so this is not a new situation for us.”
Memorial’s facility design is led by Bill Andrews of Andrews Architect, who has designed other medical facilities in central Ohio. Pizutti will handle construction, according to Ziegler.
Nationwide’s design-build project team is led by Thomas & Marker Construction; the consulting engineering firm Karpinski Engineering provided professional design services.
City Gate was built by local developer Connolly Construction Co. with sites for retail, commercial and medical use.
“Memorial Hospital’s decision to locate in the development is a great fit and affirms both organizations’ desire to improve life for all people in the community,” said Phillip Connolly, Connolly Construction Co. president.
Marysville Mayor John Gore sees Memorial Hospital’s new building as more growth for the city.
“We are excited that the city’s second-largest employer is able to expand as well as continue to provide quality health care to our community,” Gore said.