Lovelace Health to Develop $55M Hospital in Las Lunas in 2013

By Camelia Bulea, Associate Editor

A partnership between Lovelace Health System and Oklahoma-based Miller Architects Inc. has recently announced plans to develop a $55 million hospital in Los Lunas. Construction on the 110,000-square-foot healthcare project is expected to begin in late 2013 with an opening date set for 2015.

According to ABQ Journal, the hospital will contain between 30 and 40 inpatient beds, about 25,000 square feet of medical office space, an obstetrics unit, MRI and CT scan services, and an outpatient surgical rehabilitation unit.

“It will be a first-rate, quality facility close to so many people who have to drive right now, especially in cases of emergency,” said Lovelace President and CEO Ron Stern.

Lovelace will manage and operate the new hospital, while Miller Architects will fund, design and build the property, reports the Albuquerque Business First. Lovelace also plans to open a primary care clinic in Los Lunas in 2013 to service Lovelace Health Plan members.

The hospital will have an important economic impact on the area, as it is expected to create 500 construction jobs and 450 full-time jobs when it opens.

Darin Miller, CEO at Miller Development + Architecture said the firm would seek Valencia County Commission approval to tap approximately $12 million in property taxes to subsidize operation of the hospital. It’s an essential condition in the decision of developing a hospital, Miller said.

Miller has completed more than 200 projects in the health care field in the last 20 years. Lovelace owns six hospitals and the 210,000-member Lovelace Health Plan.

Photo rendering of the proposed hospital in Los Lunas, courtesy of Miller Architects

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