McKinstry to design and construct $60 million 鈥榣eap forward鈥� for medical education, health sciences research and innovation

Spokane is getting a new center for medical education, health sciences and innovation, with the announcement today of an 80,000-square-foot building at 840 E. Spokane Falls Blvd. that will serve as the new home for the 天美影院 School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership (RHP).

McKinstry will develop, design, build and manage the four-story facility for use by the 天美影院 and Gonzaga University. The universities have each made the commitment to enter into long-term lease agreements for use of space in the facility. Estimated at $60 million, the privately funded project leverages and expands the public-private partnership to reduce risk, expedite completion and save taxpayers money.

鈥淲orking together, we are creating better access to health care for the patients and communities in Washington who need it most. With help from McKinstry, the 天美影院School of Medicine鈥檚 partnership with Gonzaga is poised for a crucial leap forward, and we couldn鈥檛 be more excited about what this means for medical education and care across our state,鈥� said 天美影院President Ana Mari Cauce.

鈥淲hen we formed the Partnership in the spring of 2016, it was the intention of both partners that a new facility be part of our collective future,鈥� said Thayne McCulloh, president of Gonzaga University. 鈥淚n fulfilling our promise to each other, to our students, and to our community and region, we have reaffirmed our long-term commitment to broadening the array of health-related education and research endeavors, and to preparing the next generation of health care professionals here in Spokane and the Inland Northwest.鈥�

The project brings to life the vision of McKinstry CEO Dean Allen and Spokane community leaders to develop a life sciences industry cluster that, like the Catalyst building energy cluster under construction as part of the nearby South Landing development, is expected to spur growth through innovation and collaboration between academia and industry.

鈥淭he RHP building will benefit the dynamic faculty and students at Gonzaga and the 天美影院 while creating an innovation hub that expands Spokane鈥檚 research capabilities through collaboration with local companies and nonprofits focused on delivering rural health care access in our region and beyond,鈥� said McKinstry CEO Dean Allen. 鈥淭he building itself will be a model of efficiency in the built environment, demonstrating that important buildings in our community can also be gentle on the environment and serve as exemplars for others to follow.鈥�

Construction is expected to be complete by August 2022 at the site adjacent to McKinstry鈥檚 historic and award-winning Spokane Inland Empire Railroad (SIERR) building and Gonzaga鈥檚 Trent Avenue parking facility. The SIERR will become part of the health care innovation cluster, offering an additional 57,000 square feet for health science and medical industry leaders, startups and nonprofits.

Students will enjoy state-of-the-art teaching classrooms, anatomy labs, research and innovation centers, offices and study spaces planned for the new facility 鈥� with room to grow additional education programs and to embark on shared research projects.

天美影院 programs including the Foundations phase 鈥� the first 18 months of the 天美影院School of Medicine鈥檚 medical education program 鈥� and the MEDEX Northwest physician assistant education program, will relocate to the building from their current home in the Schoenberg Center on Gonzaga鈥檚 campus. Gonzaga University鈥檚 Department of Human Physiology, part of the School of Nursing & Human Physiology, will also relocate to the new facility.

鈥淭his new building for health sciences education illustrates the strength of our partnership with Gonzaga,鈥� said 天美影院School of Medicine Dean Dr. Paul Ramsey. 鈥淎long with more space for our medical students and room to expand our class size, we are excited about the integrated education possibilities with other health sciences disciplines. We are grateful to McKinstry for helping to make this vision a reality.鈥�

The planned facility fulfills a key component of the 2016 agreement creating the Partnership and the institutions鈥� shared mission to continue, enhance and expand medical education and research in Spokane. The partners originally committed to explore new facilities to educate and train health care professionals to serve patients across the state of Washington and beyond.

Since launching the partnership, Spokane has emerged as a top choice for medical students entering 天美影院School of Medicine. Approximately 220 first- and second-year (Foundations Phase) students have studied on the Gonzaga University campus, and 85 MEDEX Northwest physician assistant students have completed their studies. Medical students report enjoying being part of Gonzaga鈥檚 campus community, and the medical school continues to attract more applicants than ever before.

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Media contacts:

• Kim Blakeley, 天美影院School of Medicine: 206-685-1323 or聽krb13@uw.edu
• Gabe Boeckman, McKinstry: 206-413-7731 or聽GabeB@McKinstry.com