Construction begins on $100 million medical school in Phoenix
Jul 10, 2019, 4:15 AM | Updated: 2:57 pm
(Plaza Companies Rendering)
(Plaza Companies Rendering)
PHOENIX — Construction on a $100 million medical school in midtown Phoenix began this week.
Nebraska-based Creighton University will occupy the 180,000-square-foot space at the Park Central property along Central Avenue.
“They will have 900 students on the campus when it opens seeking degrees in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistance programs,” Sharon Harper, CEO of Plaza Companies told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday.
“It’s a transformational project for the state of Arizona.”
Plaza Companies is the developer for the campus and the co-owner of the Park Central property.
The first phase of the campus is expected to open in spring 2021. It is part of a project that will turn the former Park Central Mall area into a 500,000-square-foot “community hub,” according to a press release.
Harper said bringing more health professionals to the state through the school will help address its lack of doctors.
“In Arizona, the physician-to-patient ratio is one of the worst in the country. There’s a real need for health care providers … and it’s at the very time that our state is growing rapidly,” Harper said.
“So it’s a perfect time and a perfect solution for Creighton to open the doors and have the kinds of services that the medical school will be bringing to our region.”
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Nailea Leon contributed to this report.
