rio rancho may see construction of new medical teaching facility

A 48,000 square foot medical education facility focusing on the teaching of orthopedics may see construction later this year in Rio Rancho.

Members of the Rio Rancho Governing Body could decide by the end of the month to entire into a formal agreement with the University of New Mexico to build the structure.

As envisioned, the two-story structure, which will be an expansion of UNM’s Health Sciences Rio Rancho campus, would include offices, classrooms, clinics, and research space.

With an estimated $21 million price tag, the building is expected to go up in the vicinity of the UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, which is located at 3001 Broadway Boulevard NE.

Funding to build the new facility, which could be up and running by the fall of 2021, will likely come through a higher education gross receipts tax that was approved by Rio Rancho voters more than a decade ago.

Revenues from that tax, as stated in the March 2008 ballot language, are to be partially used for “acquisition, construction, renovation or improvement of facilities of a four-year post-secondary public educational institution” located within Rio Rancho.

In a statement, Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said, “The new facility would result in not only a learning space for students, but also an orthopedic center and cutting-edge healthcare technology.”

By Garry Boulard

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