Saratoga Hospital is leasing more than 56,000 square feet at Wilton Mall to free much-needed space for patient care on the main hospital campus.
The lease, with mall owner and operator Macerich, reflects Saratoga Hospital’s long-term strategic plan to dedicate its Church Street campus to services that must be provided in a hospital setting—24/7 access to intensive and emergency care, constant monitoring, and a highly skilled medical team.
Officials said information systems and other support functions will be the first to move from the hospital campus to the mall space previously occupied by Sears. As departments relocate, hospital space will be reconfigured to meet the desperate need for more inpatient rooms and services that require the capabilities only a hospital can provide.
“Like many hospitals that were built before cities grew around them, we are almost out of room on our hospital campus,” said Angelo Calbone, Saratoga Hospital president and CEO. “To best serve our growing community, we must find ways to reserve space at the hospital for care that simply can’t be provided anywhere else.
“Virtually every Saratoga Hospital facility-related decision reflects that priority,” he said. “This innovative and strategic leasing arrangement is yet another example.”
In recent years, the hospital has moved outpatient services to campuses in Wilton and Malta. Officials said the Wilton Mall space is ideal in part because of its location.
The mall is across the street from Saratoga Hospital’s Wilton campus, which is home to primary and urgent care, medical imaging, eye care, breast health services, same-day surgery, and other healthcare services that can be provided equally well in non-hospital environments.
“We are very pleased to welcome this concept to our established retail property in Wilton,” said Mike Shaffer, senior manager, property management, Wilton Mall. “This re-purposing of the former Sears space for hospital support functions represents a forward-thinking adaptive reuse of retail space.
“Employees working in the new hospital facility can enjoy the range of amenities our property has to offer—from great food and top shopping options to free Wi-Fi and easy parking,” he added. “This really is a win for everyone involved.”
“This is a wonderful case of two organizations coming together and creating health and economic advantages for the community,” Calbone said.
Saratoga Hospital expects to move staff and services to the mall in phases. Currently, work is underway to convert the first 10,000 -20,000 square feet for offices for support staff and to determine the best use of the remaining space.
“One of the advantages of the mall location is that it gives us the room and flexibility we need in two key locations,” Calbone said. “We can dedicate the hospital campus to critical, care-related services, while meeting other needs at a convenient, easily accessible location.”
