Group Health Breaks Ground on New Medical Center at Benaroya's South Hill Business and Technology Center

SEATTLE, Oct. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Benaroya Company announced today construction will begin by November 1st on Group Health Cooperative's new Puyallup Medical Center at its South Hill Business and Technology Center.  The facility is being designed and built by Seattle-based CollinsWoerman and GLY Construction in close collaboration with Group Health.

"Puyallup Medical Center will be a model for all of our future clinics. From the beginning we knew we weren't just designing a building, we were designing care that focuses on our patients and families. We asked our staff how to make health care more effective and then they figured out how our space could support it. Together they solved real problems and created breakthroughs that will lead the industry," says Michael Erikson, interim executive vice president for Group Health Medical Centers.

The two-story, 52,000 sq. ft. building, expected to open in fall 2012, will contain 42 primary care exam/treatment rooms in three "Care Pods" with the capacity to serve up to 30,000 Group Health patients.  Clinic services will include: Primary care, diagnostic imaging, laboratory, pharmacy, eye care, physical therapy, and occupational medicine.  The facility also features a green roof and high efficiency mechanical systems – with LEED Gold certification anticipated.

"We are thrilled to partner with Group Health in the building of their innovative new Medical Center on our 92-acre South Hill campus," said Larry Benaroya, Principal of The Benaroya Company. "Group Health is at the forefront of changing the way care is delivered to patients."

"Group Health pioneered a unique planning process that engaged the design and construction teams before the clinic concept was developed," said Doug Grove, Senior Medical Planner and certified Lean Leader with CollinsWoerman. "Together this 'Integrated Care and Facility Design' team used lean 3P tools to redesign clinic processes and the space needed to support each of those processes."

"We are excited about the extent of Lean construction methodologies being used," said Principal and Healthcare specialist Jim Elliott and Sr. Project Manager Todd Karr with GLY Construction. "By building the model together, we are resolving issues beforehand, which allows early prefabrication of materials off-site. This shortens the construction cycle, reduces cost and creates Lean efficiencies."  

About The Benaroya Company

Established in 1956, The Benaroya Company (www.benaroya.com) is a leading full-service commercial real estate company active in acquiring, developing and managing superior data center, office, high-tech, medical, retail and industrial properties in prime locations throughout the Pacific Northwest.  

About Group Health

Marking its 64th year, Group Health Cooperative is an innovative, consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system that integrates care and coverage. Along with its subsidiary carriers, Group Health Options, Inc. and KPS Health Plans, Group Health works to improve the health of more than 660,000 plan members in Washington. Group Health is ranked "Highest in Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Northwest Region, Two Years in a Row" by J.D. Power and Associates.

SOURCE The Benaroya Company