By Holly Dutton
Columbia University Medical Center last week unveiled its newest medical facility, filled at a pace that demonstrates demand for specialized office facilities.
ColumbiaDoctors inked a lease for 125,000 s/f at 51 West 51st Street with landlord Vornado in October 2011.
It took 15 months to built out the property that will house 200 doctors in a variety of specialties allowing the hospital to serve 20 percent more patients per year, according to the university.
Phillip Silverman, vice for real estate at Columbia University Medical Center, said the university chose the midtown location for its accessibility and value.
“We determined we would get a lot more value by moving to 6th Avenue and be more accessible to public transportation and our patients in this location,” he said. “By getting more value for our rent dollars we were able to secure significantly larger space.”
Working with landlord Vornado was a “terrific” process, said Silverman. “It’s been a very collaborative relationship internally with our organization and the landlord Vornado.”
The multi-disciplinary facility was previously housed at 650 Madison Avenue, in a building owned by the Carlyle Group.
With the new space, ColumbiaDoctors has effectively expanded by nearly fifty percent.
“This is a significantly enhanced practice with more than 200 doctors in this location,” said Silverman.
The facility has its own private lobby for patients and all 125,000 s/f is located on one floor of the building on 51st Street, between fifth and sixth avenues.
Doctors at the facility come from Columbia University Medical Center and specialize in dentistry, oncology, pediatrics, radiology, women’s health, psychiatry and laboratory services, among others.
As well as being a satellite office to Columbia University Medical Center’s main medical campus, located at 630 West 168th Street, the facility works in collaboration with New York Presbyterian Hospital.“The true benefit is for our patients,” said Silverman. “We are able to provide the highest quality patient care. Patients can have all of their medical services consolidated.”
