Sanford Center provides one location for research centers

Sanford Health-MeritCare’s research efforts, once spread out in multiple locations across Sioux Falls, are now located together inside the new Sanford Center. Sanford Health recently converted the former Hutchinson Technology building in northern Sioux Falls into corporate offices and space for all Sanford research centers. The Sanford Center was unveiled during a ribbon cutting celebration today.

“Consolidating our research efforts into one location allows for greater collaboration and fast growth, hopefully leading to more discoveries and cures,” stated Dave Link, Senior Executive Vice President, Sanford Health-MeritCare. “For our patients and the people we serve, we will offer even more opportunities to participate in clinical trials. Together, we will all be improving the human condition and changing the face of medicine.”

The 300,000-square-foot Sanford Center is located near I-229 and I-90 in Sioux Falls. Currently, 64,000 square feet will be research administration and laboratory space including wet labs, offices and animal holding facilities (vivarium). Nearly 400 researchers and other employees will occupy the building, which will include all Sanford research centers:

• Cancer Biology Research Center
• Cardiovascular Health Research Center
• Health Disparities Research Center
• Sanford Children’s Health Research Center
• Methodology and Data Analysis Research Center
• Women’s Health Research Center
• National Institute for Athletic Health & Performance at Sanford
• The Sanford Project – Curing Type 1 Diabetes Through Beta Cell Regeneration

“Our researchers continue to be published and recognized for their discoveries, and Sanford Research/USD offers exciting challenges both in well-established research projects and ever expanding research opportunities,” said Ben Perryman, PhD, President, Sanford Research/USD. “As a result, we anticipate accelerated researcher and physician recruitment for our entire health system. This facility puts Sanford research recruitment capacity some three to five years ahead of schedule.”

Sanford Health-MeritCare Corporate Offices

The Sanford Center will also hold the new Sanford Health-MeritCare Sioux Falls corporate headquarters for leaders from both Sioux Falls, SD and Fargo, ND. Corporate headquarters in Fargo are being developed within the Radisson Hotel in downtown Fargo. Within the Sanford Center in Sioux Falls, nearly 51,000 square feet of administration space will hold various corporate functions including Executive Administration, Sanford World Clinic, Health Policy, Public Affairs and Research Park Development, among others.