UI Health Care to open new family medicine clinic in Tiffin

University of Iowa Health Care will move forward with a new family and community medical clinic in Tiffin, following approval from the Iowa Board of Regents April 24. The 10,000-square-foot building will occupy a 1.2 acre parcel of land at the intersection of Highway 6 and Kimberlite Street, bringing prenatal and primary care to “one of the fastest-growing residential communities in the state,” said David Kieft, senior director of University Business and Real Estate, at the Board of Regents meeting Wednesday.

Once complete, the clinic will house 12 exam rooms, a lab, and a small conference room for collaboration and support spaces, board documents stated. Five to six clinical providers are expected to serve patients at the location initially, with room to expand as demand grows. “Family medicine services are in high demand in most communities across the state, and that includes Tiffin, located just west of the Iowa City area,” said Dr. Jeffrey Quinlan, chair and department executive officer of Family and Community Medicine, in a post on the university’s website. “This is one example of how we are working to increase access to family medicine services by providing more convenient locations, close to home.” The facility is being developed under a 15-year initial lease with with TPV Commercial LLC, with four optional five-year extensions – allowing for a potential total lease term of 35 years. The project has an estimated total cost of $7 million to $8.5 million, including design, construction, furnishings, and medical equipment, Mr. Kieft said. UI Health Care will be responsible for monthly operating expenses, currently estimated at $2.95 per square foot, as well as real estate taxes on the completed facility. The developer will bear responsibility for preparing the site, including all subdivision work, utility access, and coordination with the Iowa Department of Transportation and city officials to install a traffic signal at the intersection, board documents stated. UI Health Care will have the option to purchase the building beginning in year 11 of the lease, at the appraised market value at that time. Final design plans are pending board approval, and the building is “anticipated to be complete in the fall of 2026,” Mr. Kieft said.

Center for Disabilities and Development building to be razed, center moved to new facility

Following Iowa Board of Regents approval, UI Health Care is moving forward with plans to relocate its Center for Disabilities and Development as part of a broader campus redevelopment effort that includes the demolition of the CDD’s longtime home on Hawkins Drive, which is in the path of the hospital’s future patient care tower. The new CDD site will be a 58,000-square-foot office building located at 2610 Northgate Drive, in an area that houses several health care providers, including other UI Health Care clinics.

“Moving to this new location will give us the opportunity to create a more innovative and state-of-the-art environment for individuals with disabilities and their families to receive care, as well as conduct research, and lead community engagement efforts and interdisciplinary training,” said Jim Leste, chief administrative officer for UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital, in a post on the university’s website. “Not only will staff and patients have access to a nicer, newer space, but the new location will have more convenient access to the interstate. This will be a huge benefit for the many patients who travel to us for specialized care from all over the state.” According to the post, approximately 70% of the CDD’s patients reside outside of Johnson County. “The entire building will need to be renovated on the interior to meet the specialized patient populations that are served by this clinic,” Mr. Kieft told the board at its meeting Wednesday. “In addition, the owner will construct a 15-to-25,000-square-foot addition to accommodate the entire CDD program,” along with “an extensive outdoor play area added to the north side of the building.” Under the terms of the agreement, UI Health Care will enter into an initial 20-year lease, with the option to renew for four additional five-year terms, allowing for up to 40 years of occupancy, board documents stated. The base lease rate is set at $18.50 per square foot for the existing structure and $24.80 per square foot for the new addition. These rates will remain fixed for the first five years and will then adjust every five years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. UI Health Care will also cover monthly operating expenses – estimated at $2.39 per square foot – along with property taxes, Mr. Kieft said. The landlord has committed to several upgrades at their own expense, including a new roof, replacement of the building’s air handling units, resurfacing of parking areas, and landscaping improvements. UI Health Care will finance the full cost of the interior renovation and the building addition, with total project costs estimated between $35 million and $40 million. A construction rider included in the lease “requires that all major components over $50,000 in the renovation to be bid through a competitive process with a minimum of three bids on each of those components,” Mr. Kieft said. Payment for these improvements will be made by UI Health Care upon substantial completion. The facility is expected to be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2027.

Mission Cancer + Blood Des Moines location to move

UI Health Care is working on securing a lease for a 41,000-square-foot building at 110 East Court Ave. in Des Moines for one of its Mission Cancer + Blood clinics. The landlord of the clinic's current location at 1221 Pleasant St. will not commit to extending the lease beyond 2025, according to the university’s website post. The new facility is expected to support both current operations and future growth in oncology care, with an emphasis on infusion services. The lease carries an initial 10-year term and includes options for four additional five-year renewals, allowing for up to 30 years of occupancy, board documents stated. UI Health Care will occupy approximately 40% of the building. To accommodate patients and staff, the property owner is constructing a parking ramp across the street, giving the university the option of leasing up to 265 parking spaces. Base rent is set at $25 per square foot, with a 2.5% annual increase, Mr. Kieft told the board. In addition to rent, UI Health Care will be responsible for its 40% share of the building’s operating and maintenance expenses, estimated at $3 per square foot, plus real estate taxes. “The lease space within the building will need to be fully renovated to convert the space from a standard office building to a modern oncology-focused medical facility,” Mr. Kieft said, adding that a detailed construction rider is included in the lease, which would require competitive bidding for all major design and construction components. Renovation costs are estimated at $12 million to $14 million, which UI Health Care will cover upon “substantial completion of the project.” The landlord of the new location will cover the cost of lobby renovations, exterior landscaping upgrades, new air handling and chiller units, and the construction of a drive-up pharmacy. “This project is being fast-tracked to meet some critical occupancy deadlines and they need to vacate (the) other space,” Mr. Kieft said, adding that the new facility is expected to be operational by early 2026.