The centralized Catholic Health System administrative center at 144 Genesee Street will be six stories and 140,000 sq.ft. in size. It will be built on a Uniland Development Company parcel known as Block 21 in the Elm Oak Corridor at Genesee and Oak streets. The primary entrance will be on Genesee Street.
Catholic Health is consolidating 700 employees into the new building that will be owned by Uniland and leased to Catholic Health. Parking for 700 cars is planned in an adjacent parking garage. The Buffalo-based architecture firm of Stieglitz Snyder will serve as lead architects on the project. The firm has helped shape downtown with projects including the Avant on Delaware Avenue.
"Our healthcare ministry has made major advances in clinical quality and innovation as well as the effective use of healthcare technology. As we continue to transform healthcare in our region, we are making every effort to achieve the administrative efficiencies that are the hallmark of a high performing healthcare system," said Joe McDonald, President and CEO for Catholic Health.
The administrative staff of Catholic Medical Partners is also expected to move into the facility following the expiration of the lease on their current Delaware Avenue offices in 2015. Catholic Medical Partners is an independent practice association of more than 900 area physicians who are closely aligned with Catholic Health. The move is expected to enhance collaboration on key clinical integration and quality initiatives to improve patient care across the continuum.
Consistent with Catholic Health's mission and advocacy for responsible use of natural resources, the new facility will feature a wide range of environmentally-friendly features and high-efficiency systems in an effort to achieve LEED certification. The environmental impact of the building spreads far beyond its walls with secondary impacts that include a significant reduction in vehicle traffic with associates no longer needing to travel between sites.
Work on the $46 million project is expected to start at the end of the month and be completed in summer 2014. The City is allocating $3.8 million in state development funding to the project.
looking forward to seeing the site plan more than anything. Good first sign that the primary entrance will be on Genesee, though employees will probably be entering from a lot or ramp at the rear.