Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin, LLC
N15 W28300 Golf Road, Pewaukee
$22 Million Project
90,000 square-foot comprehensive orthopedic clinic and outpatient surgery center
Developer: HSI Properties, LLC
Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin recently opened its medical facility at N15 W28300 Golf Road, Pewaukee.
The new, 90,000 square-foot, facility includes a comprehensive orthopedic clinic, a 23-hour outpatient surgery center, MRI, and physical therapy suite.
Brookfield-based HSI Properties LLC managed the development and construction of the $22 million building, the first medical development in the company’s portfolio. The facility opened in June, and the first surgery took place in early July. HSI president, Ryan Schultz, discusses the project in detail.
How did this project come to fruition?
“I originally presented the build-to-suit opportunity through a relationship I have with one of the physicians in the practice. I had been made aware of inefficiencies and space challenges the practice was experiencing given their rapid rate of growth. It was a matter of bringing the land partner, whom I also had a relationship with, and OAW together. We helped cultivate that relationship to get this project completed.”
The timeline for completion on the project was pretty robust, describe that process and how your team was able to meet those demands.
“We broke ground in June of 2015. The clinic opened its doors one year later in June 2016, with the surgery center’s first case conducted on July 5, 2016. The schedule was extremely aggressive, especially considering the specialized nature of the facility. The 20,000 square-foot surgery center is a “sterile environment,” and has sophisticated automated temperate, pressure, and humidity controls, medical gas, and life safety systems in place. Favorable weather certainly played a role in the project’s success, though I’d be remiss if I didn’t applaud our team for their extraordinary efforts. Everyone went to great lengths to get the job done on time without compromising quality.”
Describe the working relationship with OAW, and how you came to understand their business in order to develop this project.
“OAW is on the leading edge of health care innovation as well as the ongoing evolution of orthopedic care. While the practice has seen year over year growth, and noticeable increases in market share, they haven’t been able to provide care as efficiently as they would like; despite a well managed staff. This was largely due to an outdated clinic and disjointed (no pun intended) systems. With everything under one roof, the patient experience is greatly improved, and the doctors have more time to focus on care, versus traveling from location to location. Working through the layout and programming of the business operations was easy under the leadership of Mark Smith, Chief Administrative Officer. Their department heads and back office personnel are incredible. They knew exactly what they wanted out of the new facility, and how to maximize the residual benefits. Having witnessed their operations for the past few years, it’s no surprise to me why they are a leader in Wisconsin orthopedics.”
Epstein Uhen Architects designed the project. Describe the relationship with them, and how they helped this project come together.
“EUA has a deep and wide breadth of experience in similar types of health care facilities. Their design team was responsive to OAW’s aesthetic vision for the building as well as the town’s building and site plan requirements. Their construction administration team helped keep the project on schedule, and ensure plans were being followed per state code.
Tell me what this project accomplished for Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin in terms of efficiency and consolidation.
“Previously OAW had seen patients at one of a dozen or so leased satellite clinics throughout Waukesha County. From an efficiency standpoint, it wasn’t ideal. By consolidating several of the satellite clinics, and the surgery center, under one roof, OAW was able to improve efficiency, increase the number of patients seen, optimize the level of care, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Additionally, this project was as much about growth and expansion as it was about brand identity and presence within the marketplace. The new prominent position along I-94 translates into more than 90,000 impressions per day.”
How does the facility accommodate future growth for OAW?
“The facility was built to accommodate continued growth over the next 10 years. The facility can be expanded to include five large operating rooms capable of total joint replacements, as well as one small procedure room. Additionally, this location will allow for additional growth and exposure that OAW didn’t have with their previous locations.”
This was your first health care related facility, what challenges did that present from your perspective?
“Undoubtedly health care presents its own unique circumstances from a design and construction standpoint, but our approach remained consistent. We provided our client an owner’s perspective by helping facilitate the development process, mitigate risk, optimize value, and manage the costs, schedule, and ultimate delivery of the facility.
We helped orchestrate a highly sophisticated process, and managed a team of professionals including the architect, contractor and engineering consultants. We advocate solely on behalf of the owner’s interest. We insulate them from the day-to-day duties and responsibilities so they can focus on their core business.
This new OAW facility goes beyond just a more comfortable space. If there is not a direct correlation between the cost of this expansion and an increase to the bottom line, something is wrong.”
How did you overcome those challenges to meet the needs of OAW?
“OAW would be leaving leased clinic space as part of this consolidation so we had a hard and fast deadline to be up and operational in the new location. While the new site provided unmatched visibility and accessibility, it was not zoned for this type of use. The Town of Delafield had very stringent open space requirements. In an effort to provide maximum exposure to OAW, and future tenants in this office park, we created a conditional use that would allow for smaller commercial lots along Golf Road (I-94) while preserving the low land open space along the golf course to the north. We literally created an entirely new zoning classification to accommodate this project.”
You’ve said this is an industry you would like to continue to grow your business. How has the experience with OAW helped you prepare for future projects in this industry?
“This has been a very exciting and rewarding project for our firm, and me personally. I have had the pleasure of working with, and establishing another first class client in OAW. I have worked alongside an incredible group of talented professionals, and have segued into another segment of development in health care. I intend to use this experience as a case study, and plan to develop other medical office buildings and health care-related facilities in the near future. This has been a wildly successful project all around, and the feedback so far has been incredible-not only from OAW, but also from the patients, which is what this project is all about. We couldn’t be more pleased, and are grateful for the opportunity.”
