Healthcare Facilities Take Over Retail in San Diego

Healthcare is rapidly expanding alongside population growth in most cities. In San Diego, healthcare clinics and urgent care facilities are moving into retail centers to better accommodate population centers, and the trend is among the biggest changes for the architects and designers outfitting these spaces, according to speakers at a recent CREW San Diego luncheon. The speakers discussed why healthcare integration into retail spaces is among the top trends in response to growing demand for healthcare.

“Currently, the most prolific expansion of healthcare services is the integration of healthcare facilities, like clinics and urgent care, into retail centers,” Mila Volkova, director of healthcare design at Ware Malcomb. “The industry is shifting towards providing care to people where they already are, rather than going to a dedicated healthcare campus for outpatient services. These retail centers may include clinical services together with regenerative activities such as yoga and meditation.”

The aging population is among the biggest drivers of healthcare expansion and demand for outpatient facilities. Growing knowledge about the importance of preventative care and mental health services is also contributing to the rising demand for outpatient centers. All of this has fueled leasing activity. “As the market continues to demand more outpatient services—more routine, less acute care—the trend for shifting these services away from hospitals continues. With the larger segment of Americans continuing to age, the demand for senior healthcare services is increasing,” says Volkova. “There is also growing demand for preventative care and wellness-focused activities. Furthermore, there is an increased awareness and need for mental and behavioral health services. Since this segment of the healthcare spectrum has been underserved for many years, there is now a widely recognized need to provide these services to relieve the accumulated demand.”

While the population is fueling the demand, the City of San Diego is supporting healthcare growth and responding to provider needs. “In addition to adherence to current zoning and building codes, cities are more open to collaboration in the upfront planning process to solve issues ahead of time,” adds Volkova. “This alleviates the complex code maneuvers that may need to occur when processing healthcare facilities through plan check.”