University of Iowa Health Care – North Liberty Campus

The University of Iowa Health Care hospital in North Liberty is a 469,000 sq. ft. is a state-of-the-art newly constructed medical campus located on a 60-acre site. The facility represents a significant expansion of UI Health Care services beyond the main Iowa City campus, and this marks the system’s first inpatient hospital developed offsite.

The campus includes two (2) three-story hospitals and a five-story medical office building, with space designated for inpatient care, outpatient services, research, and teaching. It is now home to the UI Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation and includes specialized services in sports medicine, emergency care, diagnostic imaging, and physical therapy.

Key Facility Features

Clinical Spaces

• 84 clinic exam rooms
• 36 inpatient beds (including 12 with enhanced monitoring)
• 14 emergency care rooms
• 12 operating rooms
• 2 procedure rooms

Specialty Care & Services

• Orthopedic Injury Walk-In Clinic
• Advanced diagnostic imaging (MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, ultrasound, EOS, DEXA)
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation facilities (indoor/outdoor)
• Retail pharmacy with 24-hour drive-thru access
• Clinical lab and phlebotomy services
• Durable medical equipment distribution
• Research facilities including Biomechanics Lab and weight-bearing CT
• Education center and surgical skills training lab

Patient & Staff Amenities

• Private inpatient rooms with family accommodations
• Cafeteria and gift shop
• Intuitive wayfinding and surface-level parking
• Ample natural light throughout the facility

Electrical Infrastructure Highlights

• Robust power distribution system designed for critical healthcare environments
• Four (4) 480v 3000-amp substations
• Two (2) 12,470v 1.75 megawatt generators, 3.5 megawatts of generation
  • Enough to power 3,500 homes for a year!
• Three (3) chillers, each rated for 1,050 tons
  • Enough to cool 3,000 homes
• Six (6) boilers, each rated at 12,500,000 BTUH
  • Enough to heat 450 homes
• DMC (digital master controller) that monitors and controls the campuses 21 ATSs
• Infrastructure support for future facility expansion (including shelled inpatient and surgical space)
• Specialized electrical coordination for:
  • Imaging suites housing advanced technologies (e.g., 3T MRI, photon-counting CT)
  • Research and training facilities requiring high-performance and isolated power

The North Liberty campus was developed to meet rising demand for orthopedic and emergency care services in the region. By relocating these services from the main campus, it allows for expanded capacity in Iowa City while improving patient access and convenience in North Liberty, Coralville, Tiffin, and surrounding communities.

Approximately 1,000 healthcare professionals will work on-site, including physicians, nurses, technicians, researchers, and support staff. In addition to clinical operations, the facility plays a critical role in UI Health Care’s mission to advance education and research, providing hands-on training space for students, residents, and fellows.

With room for future growth, the North Liberty campus is designed to serve as a long-term healthcare anchor in the region, offering scalable infrastructure, efficient design, and patient-first care delivery. The Tri-City Group worked closely with the owners and the construction team to provide a project schedule defining the design, procurement, and construction of the project, along with a detailed execution plan.