(Get directions to the pediatrics clinic entrance in the Miller building during construction.)
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (June 22, 2009)– Groundbreaking is July 22, 2009, for a new medical office building at Olathe Boulevard and Cambridge Street in Kansas City, Kansas. Designed to make it easier for patients to access physician clinics, the new, environmentally engineered building will stand just south of The University of Kansas Hospital's main building.
The building is a collaborative effort among The University of Kansas Hospital (the project's developer), The University of Kansas Physicians (patients will visit physicians in the facility's clinics), and the University of Kansas Medical Center. The medical center will pay rent for the physicians and build a new parking garage for patients.
"The building would not have been possible without the collaboration on campus brought about by the 2008 affiliation agreement among the hospital, university and the physicians. Together, we have continued our commitment to high quality care and have made ease of access by patients a top priority. This new building also will set a standard in the region for environmental quality," said Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Hospital.
The physician clinics are currently housed throughout the campus, many in spaces that were former academic offices or hospital units that were not built for clinic operations.
"This building will allow each clinic to provide the best patient experience possible. There will be laboratory and radiology functions within the building to make the patient's visit even easier," said Kirk Benson, MD, president of The University of Kansas Physicians.
"It will also allow for more efficient operation in each clinic. That will be very beneficial to every physician on campus," added Dr. Benson.
University officials said being able to support the physician's clinical operation is just one benefit of the new building.
"The new facility will also provide an improved environment for teaching students and residents. By combining the clinics into one operation, it will provide a more collaborative interaction among various clinical disciplines, which is the foundation of academic medicine," said Barbara Atkinson, MD, executive vice chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center and executive dean of the School of Medicine. "In addition, this new, state-of-the-art facility will assist the Medical Center in continuing to recruit the best in faculty, residents and students."
The project is designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, as administered by the U. S. Green Building Council. The building's final level of certification has not been verified, but the building is on track to meet LEED Silver standards, with the possibility of ranking even higher in the final design.
The six story, 183,000-square-foot building will house 18 different clinical departments, each with a set of subspecialties. The architect is Cannon Design, which has designed several clinic buildings for academic medical centers, and the contractor is Turner Construction. It will cost about $73 million. Plans call for the building to be open in 2011.
The companion parking garage, located on the south side of Olathe Boulevard, will accommodate approximately 600 cars and open around the same time as the building. The budget for the garage is $9 million and will be paid for entirely by parking fee revenues, not tax money.
View images of the new building.