Intermountain Health Lutheran Medical Outpatient Building

Project Summary

Intermountain Health has long served the Wheat Ridge community through Lutheran Medical Center, a trusted institution with over a century of care delivery and a Level II trauma designation. In response to evolving community needs and regional growth, Intermountain made a transformative investment: relocating Lutheran Medical Center to a new 26-acre site at Clear Creek Crossing.

Located at I-70 and 40th Avenue—just 3.5 miles from the original campus—the newly relocated hospital officially opened on August 3, 2024. As part of this effort, the five-story, 138,000-square-foot Lutheran Medical Outpatient Building (MOB) opened on October 8, 2024, directly connected to the hospital via a five-story parking deck. Strategically sited at 12905 W. 40th Avenue with high visibility from I-70, the MOB serves as a centralized hub for outpatient services and care coordination across Wheat Ridge and surrounding communities.

Challenge

As Intermountain Health planned for the next chapter of Lutheran Medical Center, the MOB needed to overcome several key challenges:

• Respond to Growth: Wheat Ridge’s increasing population and evolving demographics required a modern outpatient facility that could scale with demand.
  
• Integrate with a New Hospital: With the hospital relocating to Clear Creek Crossing, the MOB had to physically and operationally connect to the new campus while preserving a seamless patient journey.
  
• Align Independent Providers: Intermountain aimed to engage independent physician groups alongside employed providers, requiring flexible suite designs and shared infrastructure.
  
• Create Brand Continuity: The building had to reflect Intermountain Health’s architectural identity while complementing the newly built hospital—a foundational moment for system-wide consistency.
  

Solution

Following a national selection process, Intermountain Health partnered with NexCore Group to deliver a thoughtfully planned, strategically located outpatient facility. The development prioritized scale, integration, and design flexibility while accelerating time to market.

Key elements of the solution included:

• Adaptable Layout: The MOB was designed with flexible, clinic-ready suites to accommodate diverse specialties and practice sizes. This tenant-forward strategy led to 85% pre-leasing prior to construction start in December 2022.
  
• Comprehensive Services: The facility consolidates 12 separate clinics into one building, now offering imaging, lab, ambulatory surgery, neurosurgery, maternal-fetal medicine, orthopedics, neurology, breast care, and cardiovascular services—all under one roof.
  
• Seamless Access: A five-story parking deck links the MOB directly to the hospital, streamlining patient entry and provider collaboration. The location, with direct access from I-70, enhances regional reach.
  
• Architectural Harmony: Davis Partnership’s design mirrors Intermountain’s visual identity while aligning with the new hospital’s exterior. The facility also sets a replicable standard for future Intermountain MOBs in other markets.
  

Results

The Lutheran MOB officially opened in October 2024, serving as a new gateway to care in Wheat Ridge. It has quickly become a model for how outpatient infrastructure can support both immediate needs and long-term growth.

Key Outcomes Include:

• Improved Patient Access: Consolidation of 12 clinics reduces care fragmentation and simplifies the patient experience—providing everything from lab work to specialty visits in a single destination.
  
• Expanded Provider Base: The facility attracts both Intermountain-employed and independent specialists, building a multidisciplinary ecosystem of care and improving access to high-demand services.
  
• Community Impact: As a major healthcare anchor in Jefferson County and West Denver, the facility advances regional health equity, drives economic development, and positions Intermountain as a long-term community partner.
  
• Scalable Model: The collaboration between NexCore and Intermountain produced a high-performing, flexible facility that meets today’s clinical requirements while preparing for tomorrow’s expansion.
  

Impact

The Lutheran Medical Outpatient Building reflects what’s possible when long-term vision meets integrated delivery. As part of the new Lutheran campus, the MOB enables:

• One-stop care for thousands of patients, eliminating the need to navigate multiple locations
  
• Accelerated provider alignment, enabling high-performing teams and specialty care co-location
  
• Greater patient satisfaction through design efficiencies, ease of access, and modern amenities
  
• Sustainable growth, with a scalable template for future outpatient projects across Intermountain’s footprint
  

Together, NexCore Group and Intermountain Health have delivered a next-generation outpatient environment that anchors community care and reflects a deep commitment to accessible, high-quality healthcare.