MINNEAPOLIS—Minneapolis-based Opus Group is one of the country's largest developers of office buildings and shopping centers. It has also been involved in other sectors over the years, including healthcare.

But now, as the country health systems face a need for new, advanced and conveniently located outpatient facilities, the company is dedicating a growing division within the company to healthcare projects.

To get the ball rolling, the development and design firm, which is also heavily involved in the residential and industrial sectors, in recent months named Tom Shaver, a 31-year commercial real estate veteran, to lead a newly formed subsidiary, Opus Healthcare.

The company also added two key project management experts, Bob Steffel and Jed Field, to the team.

The Opus Group, which was founded as Rauenhorst Construction Co. in 1953, spent two years analyzing the move before entering the healthcare arena and appointing Mr. Shaver to lead it. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Opus Holdings LLC.

In a news release, Opus stated that Shaver brings more than three decades of commercial real estate experience to his new post, including managing entitlements, structuring and financing deals, and identifying opportunities.

The development company's entry into the healthcare real estate arena is in response to the increasing number of insured patients and the ongoing shift in healthcare to an ambulatory, retail-like delivery model, according to the firm. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is helping to move these trends along, the company notes.

“We're enthusiastic about our entry into the healthcare sector and serving the real estate needs of health systems,” said Mr. Shaver in a statement. “Health systems strive to improve outcomes and reduce costs, which aligns with Opus' collaborative design-build approach. We're excited to help customers achieve their visions for facilities that are patient-centric, efficient and flexible.”

Opus has prior experience in HRE, as it completed the Kohl's Wellness Center in Menomonee Falls, WI, and Columbia St. Mary's Gateway Health Center in West Allis, WI; among others.

Mr. Shaver noted that the company plans to focus on developing smaller clinics with anywhere from 15,000 to 50,000 square feet of space and larger ambulatory centers of between 50,000 and 100,000 square feet.  While Opus Healthcare will build projects anywhere in the country, much of its work will likely be in regions where it has offices, such as Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City and others. The firm adds that it “sees tremendous opportunities” throughout the United States, especially in Florida and Texas.

Opus says it has a strategic relationship with Kansas City, MO-based JE Dunn Construction Co. for major healthcare construction projects and design alliances with nationally-recognized architectural firms.

“We are well positioned to work on any healthcare project,” the company says. “We manage financial risk; incorporate flexible, evidence-based design and implement innovative building techniques that decrease operational costs.”