UF Health breaks ground on north Jacksonville complex

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – UF Health Jacksonville officially broke ground Wednesday on a major health care project that will bring the latest technology and services to northern Jacksonville and surrounding areas.

The UF Health Jacksonville North medical office complex, just off Interstate 95 and Duval Road, will house multiple services and physicians in a state-of-the-art 210,000-square-foot, six-story building. The estimated cost of the project is $60 million to $65 million.

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"We are thrilled to break ground on a project that will bring outstanding health care services to the residents of north Jacksonville," said David Guzick, UF senior vice president for health affairs and president of UF Health. "A major goal of UF Health is to provide convenient, timely health care in a manner that combines medical expertise with the highest levels of hospitality and service. This new state-of-the-art facility, in which both UF faculty and community-based physicians will practice, will do just that."

The first two floors of the medical office complex will include an emergency department, urgent care, imaging services, women's health services, operating room suites and interventional rooms. The top four floors will house University of Florida faculty and community physicians. Construction is estimated to take 18 months, with an anticipated grand opening in early 2015.

"We have anticipated this day for a long time, not only for UF Health but also for the people who work and live in this area," said Russ Armistead, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville. "Many of the people we already serve live in northern Duval County and Nassau County, and this new facility will make it easier for them to use our services. UF Health Jacksonville North will also bring the expertise of our physicians and caregivers to the rest of that community."

The first phase of the project -- clearing part of the 70-acre site for the office building -- has already been completed. Up next will be completing the infrastructure for the project on Max Leggett Parkway next to River City Marketplace.

"Our faculty is thrilled to be able to bring their expertise and care to the people in northern Jacksonville," said Daniel Wilson, UF vice president for health affairs and dean of the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville. "Our physicians already serve many of those residents on our current campus, so offering them the same treatments closer to their homes is a big benefit."

"The north campus is a big part of our future in Jacksonville," Guzick said. "This medical office complex is just the first part, but in the years ahead we hope to expand our services to continue to fit the needs of that community."