HEALTH SERVICES CORP UNVEILS PLAN FOR $7 MILLION COMPLEX

A multi-million dollar professional office/retail complex will house its first occupant here by September 1992.

Health Services Corporation of America is building the $7 million-plus complex on the six-acre tract it owns along Mount Auburn Road, between Doctors Park and West Park Mall.

The company's national headquarters will be housed there in a multi-level office building set off by a two-story atrium. The 70,000-square-foot office will be built around the existing HSCA building on the site. HSCA will occupy the lower, first and third levels and the second level will be leased to tenants.

A 9,500-square-foot medical clinic building will be north of it, housing various health services.

Behind it will be a staggered, two-level strip of office and retail space and parking facilities. About 22,000 square feet will be earmarked for professional office space and 14,500 for retail space. The parking area has a capacity of 428 vehicles. Some of it will be covered.

A third structure, on the north side of the property, is scheduled to be built later in a second phase. The 11,300-square-foot, two-story office will face Mount Auburn Road.

"A plaza at the center with a fountain and clock tower will be the focal point, tying together the headquarters building and other parts," said HSCA Chief Executive Officer Earl Norman of Cape Girardeau. "It is one of two fountains that are also part of the storm water retention plan."

An eight-foot underground culvert will couple the two fountain pools.

The complex will follow the natural slope of the land. The upper level will be on the same plane as the outer ring road of the mall and the lower tier even with Mount Auburn Road, where the main entrances will be located.

"Earl Norman has approached it well, utilizing the topography of the land," said City Manager J. Ronald Fischer.

He praised the innovative approach of the fountain basins being used for storm water retention, combining aesthetic and practical considerations.

All the facilities are handicapped accessible.

"This development is planned so all the buildings tie together harmoniously," said architect John Gary of GK Design Group of Dallas, Texas. "The plaza focal point is unique. Many large metro areas would love to have this project."

Norman said the company contemplated alternative cities for the development but decided to remain in Cape Girardeau.

"We considered relocating to St. Louis, Jackson and other cities," he said. "But Cape Girardeau is home. We chose to stay because we have faith in the city."

HSCA has an office in St. Louis with a staff of 45 and ten regional sales offices across the country.

The new headquarters will bring all the local HSCA employees under one roof along with allowing others to be relocated here. Norman expects the current number of local employees to swell from 60 to 100 in the next two to three years. Most of the new positions will be executive level.

The office will also house the Health Careers Foundation. The not-for-profit association, founded by HSCA in October, provides $500,000 in scholarships for students in the health care field.

"I hope the HSCA project is indicative of new growth in Cape Girardeau," said Walt Wildman, executive director of the Regional Commerce and Growth Association. "It may be the start of a resurgence of development for our region, spurring others to follow suit. I'm glad to see it here."

Judy Moss, economic development director of the Chamber of Commerce, agrees. "This will be a big economic advantage to our community. Earl Norman is invest~ing money in the community, which helps everyone."

The city of Cape Girardeau approved a rezoning request to modify the land's C-2 classification to C-4 last week.

HSCA has not yet awarded the contract for construction to a general contractor. Company officials expect to make a decision in the next two weeks. Tim Goodman, vice president of finance, said "fast-tracking construction" will be used for the complex. Five stages, from site preparation through finishing, will be followed according to a time frame that expedites the process. The structures will be built with steel framing, masonry exteriors and standing seam roofing.

"We will start construction September or October of 1991," Norman said. "The first tenant occupation should occur by September 1992 and construction should be completed by the winter of 1992."

According to architect Gary, the design is an eclectic mixture of traditional and modern styling. GK Design Group designed the new Ford and Sons Funeral Home built on North Mount Auburn Road last year.

HSCA is a group purchasing organization for hospitals and alternate medical facilities across the nation. By purchasing supplies and equipment in bulk, the company passes the resulting discounts to its customers. It was founded here in 1969.

The Cape Girardeau company negotiated $1.1 billion dollars in purchases in 1990.