Officials from UCCS and Penrose-St. Francis Health Services celebrated the signing of a lease agreement for the health care system to operate a wide range of clinical services in the William J. Hybl Sports Medicine and Performance Center. The two organizations held the celebration June 19 at the Ent Center for the Arts, which will overlook the future Hybl Center.
The 104,000-square foot Hybl Center will break ground in fall 2018 for clinical practice, academic instruction, research and continuing education. The facility will allow the UCCS exercise science program to expand to 1,000 students and the human anatomy and physiology program to expand to 500 students by 2020, when construction is scheduled to be complete.
Penrose-St. Francis will operate clinics for orthopedic sports medicine, primary care sports medicine, occupational therapy, athletic training, pain management, imaging, bone health, performance training, altitude training and occupational and tactical scenario training. The goal is to provide an international destination for elite athletes, people in highly-physical occupations like firefighters and law enforcement, and for amateur athletes to receive care and training within the goals of the City for Champions initiative.
“We knew we needed a strong partner in order to fulfill all of the requirements of City for Champions,” said UCCS Chancellor Venkat Reddy. “We needed a partner with an excellent reputation, the capability of providing the services that a preeminent sports medicine and performance center would be expected to provide, the willingness to invest significant resources and an alignment with the university’s strategic mission and goals. Only Penrose-St. Francis Centura Health met all those criteria. And the longer we worked together, the more convinced we became that we are fortunate to have each other as partners.”
The Hybl Center will be the home to three centers of distinction: the Center for Tactical and Occupational Performance, the Center for Athletes and Active Individuals with Physical Disabilities, and the Center for Health and Performance in Extreme Environments. The centers will incorporate a team approach to enhance opportunities for collaboration among clinical practice partners, promote application of research-based knowledge and provide a forum for interdisciplinary scholarship to meet the needs of local, national and global communities.
“Colorado Springs has long been a national destination for wellness-oriented organizations and individuals for more than 150 years,” said Brian Erling, interim chief executive office, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services. “The goal of this partnership is to develop a world-class sports medicine and performance center that is recognized by its programs for the elite athlete, the amateur athlete or individuals who simply desire to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. As a result, we expect the center to attract out-of-state investment and tourism to Colorado Springs.”
The $61.4 million project is receiving $16.4 million from the City for Champions project approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission in 2013. The Hybl Center will begin construction in fall 2018 with J.E. Dunn as the general contractor and HOK/RTA as the architects. Information on groundbreaking ceremony will be announced at a later time.
–Photos by Chuck Bigger
Why did we partner with a for profit organisation that will not accept certain insurance to include the employees of UCCS.