Inspira goes big on repurposing retail for health care applications

New Jersey-based Inspira Health is one of the region’s leading health care networks, comprised of four hospitals, two comprehensive care centers and nine multispecialty health centers, including the repurposed Inspira Health Center Deptford in Gloucester County, N.J.

More than simply an expansion of the health system, the center is a prime example of how design, construction and strategic planning can transform vacant big-box retail space — in this case, a former Dick’s Sporting Goods — into a dynamic hub for accessible care services.

“This was our first experience converting retail space into health care,” says Michelle Marshall, Inspira’s system vice president of business development and strategy. Original plans for expansion centered around land the system already owned nearby, but “this was a more attractive option for us because the building already had bones to work with, and we weren’t going to be impacted as much by weather and having to get the outside of the building enclosed,” she explains.

Inspira’s team shifted focus quickly and began the design and renovation process in mid-2022. The conversion project was completed in 2024.

While the physical space provided a solid framework, converting it into a health care facility presented challenges.

“Converting retail space into a health care facility requires careful attention to regulatory-, physical- and compliance-related factors that aren’t typically part of commercial retail developments,” says Brian Cich, chief operating officer of Rendina Healthcare Real Estate, headquartered in Jupiter, Fla., which developed the property. “Also, the design must ensure the efficient flow of patients, staff and medical equipment, all while keeping patient privacy in the forefront.”

Marshall acknowledges that the advantages outweighed the challenges.

“Retail tends to have very open floor plans, which makes those spaces easy to work in,” she says. “There’s not a ton of demolition, and you get a blank slate that you can build out to meet the needs of whatever services you want to put in there.” The existing parking also helped reduce costs, and the site configuration included existing access to nearby communities, streets and highways.

No project, however, is without surprises.

“We found that the building had a second floor,” she recalled, and while that was a bonus, a vibration study revealed that although it was not strong enough for the ambulatory surgery center that Inspira initially planned for the space, it was suitable for clinical use.

The facility currently houses outpatient services, physician offices and a full-service imaging center. However, it was designed with expansion in mind, including an 18,000-square-foot ambulatory surgery center.

“We placed the shell space at the back of the building, with a separate entrance so that construction will not impact patient flow and the overall operation of the building,” Marshall explains. This foresight will allow Inspira to adapt the facility to meet evolving needs while minimizing disruptions to existing services.

Inspira’s commitment to sustainable design includes a 331-panel solar array that will offset up to 70% of the facility’s energy needs.

The project was followed quickly by another retail conversion in nearby Millville, N.J. A 9,000-square-foot former Pier 1 was converted into a primary care center, which also is the hub for Inspira’s family medicine residency program.

“We took that program from a space that was around 2,000 square feet,” Marshall says. “We were able to add physicians and place and rotate more residents, which has been a real benefit to the community.”

Inspira’s foray into retail conversion represents a commitment to innovative design, strategic construction and sustainable planning. By repurposing existing structures, the organization has not only reduced costs and expedited project timelines but also has positioned itself to better serve its communities. As health care continues to evolve, expansion projects like the Deptford and Millville facilities offer a model for how to adapt empty retail space to meet the changing demands for medical services, all while balancing patient care, sustainability and future growth.