The repurposing of a nearly 95,000-square-foot structure in Tucson will precede the opening of new headquarters for the El Rio Health company.
Located at 4888 N. Stone Avenue on the north end of the city, the structure is designated as a Class B building and was completed in 1997.
Sitting on a nearly 10-acre site, the building formerly housed the Tucson Heart Hospital before that facility moved to another location in the city. For at least the last four years, the Stone Avenue structure has been vacant.
El Rio Health acquired the property just over a month ago with plans to upgrade and repurpose it. Those plans include building a new roof and installing a fire sprinkler system and new heating and cooling system.
The updating work will also see the replacement of the building’s central utility plant and extensive gutting of the structure’s interior to build new patient care space.
In a statement, Clinton Kuntz, chief executive officer of El Rio Health, said the company plans to offer a “wide full range of our services at this location, including primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care.”
New space in the structure will also be carved out for El Rio Health’s pharmacy, specialized care, and support services.
Founded in 1970, the non-profit El Rio Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center operating thirteen locations in metro Tucson.
It is expected that the upgrading of the Stone Avenue building will be completed by the spring of 2026.
December 16, 2024
By Garry Boulard