And most of the people who visit medical offices prefer to mix in other activities, such as shopping, dining, or meeting friends for a movie. “We have found that all of these are remarkably connected. If they don't live at NEWCITY, guests who come to the center for medical appointments typically visit several establishments while they're there – it's an intentional mix of uses that spans multiple sectors.”

Designing medical spaces that blend in with so many other uses can be a challenge. Berta says healthcare professionals tend to be a bit more demanding than typical retailers. They mostly avoid speculative projects, for example, and prefer spaces that are carefully designed for their specific needs.

But with so many healthcare providers shifting many services from big, centralized hospitals and into smaller clinics, developments like NEWCITY are quite attractive. “There is definitely a focus from these providers on amenities,” he says. And that is not just for their patients. “Their staff also has to go out to lunch and do their own errands.”

Berta says the demand for medical office ebbs and flows, usually in response to the local housing market, so continued expansion depends on whether the massive apartment boom moderates in 2018 and 2019. But over the long-term, as providers continue spreading outpatient facilities across entire regions, they will seek out spaces wherever gaps in coverage remain.