University of Iowa Health Care plans US$8.5M family medicine clinic in Tiffin; facility will provide prenatal and primary care services in 10,000-square-foot medical center

April 22, 2025 (Gazette (Cedar Rapids, IA)) –

Apr. 22—The Gazette offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.

University of Iowa Health Care is looking to spend tens of millions over the next year to expand its footprint across the region and state — including with a new family medicine clinic in Tiffin , just a few miles from where it is opening a 469,060-square-foot hospital in neighboring North Liberty next week.

In addition to the new 10,000-square-foot medical clinic on the northwest corner of Highway 6 and Kimberlite Street in Tiffin , UIHC intends to move its Center for Disabilities and Development from the main Iowa City campus to a 58,000-square-foot office building along Northgate Drive in Iowa City .

And it aims to both lease and renovate a 41,243-square-foot office building in Des Moines to continue providing cancer care through its recent $280 million acquisition of the 43-year-old Mission Cancer + Blood enterprise.

"Whether it is constructing a new building, moving services to another location, or renovating an existing space, every project is made with thoughtful consideration of the systemwide impact and benefits to the patient," UIHC officials said about the projects going before the Board of Regents this week, adding, "By adding new access points for these services, UI Health Care will make it easier for Iowans to receive the care they need, close to home."

Tiffin Family Medicine

For the new family clinic UIHC wants to operate in Tiffin — bringing prenatal and primary care directly to the community — officials are pursuing a lease agreement with Iowa City -based TPV Commercial LLC "to allow UI Health Care to improve access to care in the most time sensitive and cost-effective manner."

TPV and UIHC would jointly design the facility with TPV holding the design and construction contracts, according to board documents. The project is expected to cost $7 to $8.5 million , and the university would pay an initial base rent of about $743,750 a year. Under the 15-year lease — which comes with four five-year renewal options — rent would increase annually 2 percent after the first four years and include an option to buy the building in year 11.

In addition to rent, the university projects paying $29,500 annually to operate and maintain the facility.

Should regents this week approve the lease agreement, UIHC officials said they promise to provide updates on expenses to the board office monthly and to regents at regular board meetings. The university also committed not to exceed cost estimates "without formal approval from the board."

" Tiffin is currently one of the fastest growing communities in Iowa ," according to the lease proposal. "Despite this population growth, comprised primarily of young families and children, there are no primary care clinics or providers dedicated to serving this community."

In searching for possible clinic sites, UIHC officials evaluated several locations for ease of access, cost, size and expansion opportunities.

"UI Health Care is committed to serving this growing community by improving access to primary care to enable patients and families to keep their care local," according to the project proposal, touting the location as having "very good visibility from Highway 6 " and near other new "community-service type commercial establishments."

The building would include 12 exam rooms, a lab and a small conference room and serve as the primary clinic location for five to six clinical providers, "with room for additional team members as this growing community expands."

Center for Disabilities and Development move

After more than 70 years serving patients in a 100,500-square-foot building along Hawkins Drive on its main Iowa City campus, the Center for Disabilities and Development would be razed and its services moved to a former office building on the east side of town.

By tearing down the old center, the university expects to save $20 million in maintenance expenses while also clearing the way for an expansive new inpatient tower expected to cost more than $1 billion .

"The razed building will provide the inpatient tower project with much needed additional site access and construction activity spaces, facilitating the approaching bed tower project," according to the UIHC request. "In addition, the noise, vibration and disruption of the important clinical services provided within (the center) make it difficult, if not impossible, to continue to occupy the building during construction of the new tower."

Other occupants of the aged building — including the cytogenetics lab and sleep disorders clinic — would be relocated to on- or off-campus spaces.

Under a separate board request to enter into a lease at 2610 Northgate Dr. in east Iowa City , UIHC officials want to update the 58,000-square-foot office building for its Center for Disabilities and have the landlord construct a 15,000- to 25,000-square-foot addition.

"The building will be renovated to create a modern medical facility for the specialized patient population served by (the center)," the request states. "Upon renovation, the building will consist of patient clinic rooms, diagnostic and treatment areas, specialized patient rehabilitation spaces, lab, faculty offices and nursing/staff support spaces."

It also will include an outdoor playground.

Per an initial 20-year lease, with four five-year renewal options, UIHC will pay a base rent of $1.7 million for the first five years — with rate hikes every five years after that, according to board documents. The university also will pay $198,370 to operate and maintain the facility. It would cover the $35 to $40 million renovation project "upon substantial completion," documents show, "rather than have the project costs amortized as additional lease payments over the course of the lease."

Should the landlord want to sell the property, the UI would have first rights to buy it.

Mission Cancer clinic

As part of its acquisition of Mission Cancer & Blood earlier this year, UIHC is seeking board permission to sign a 10-year lease for a 41,243-square-foot portion of an office building at 110 E. Court Ave. in Des Moines .

The university reported that the operation's current leaseholder won't extend a lease at its current location. "As a result, UI Health Care had to identify a new location that will provide long term, reliable, predictable access to care for patients in central Iowa ," according to board documents.

If the lease goes through, the university would occupy about 40 percent of the building.

"The leased space will be renovated to create a modern oncology focused medical facility," according to the request, adding, "The building owner is constructing a new parking ramp across the street from the leased space and UI Health Care will have the option to lease up to 165 spaces in that new facility."

Per the agreement, the university plans to work with the landlord to design the renovations at an anticipated price of $12 to $14 million . Base rent for the first year would be nearly $1 million , increasing 2.5 percent annually after.

"UI Health Care will pay for the renovations upon substantial completion of the project," according to board documents. "A leased option is desired to allow UI Health Care to improve access to care in the most time sensitive and cost-effective manner."

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