FORT SMITH – A medical college in Fort Smith has purchased the Golden Living corporate offices to use as a biological research lab and wellness center.
The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) announced the purchase of the Golden Living facility in Fort Smith on Tuesday in what it says is a “quest to advance healthcare education and research in Arkansas and beyond.” Kyle D. Parker, chief executive officer of ACHE, said the move will create the largest research institution of any osteopathic school in the nation.
The Golden Living corporate offices building at 1000 Fianna Way, formerly known as Beverly Healthcare’s offices, will be named the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Research Institute Health & Wellness Center. It was purchased last week, ACHE announced Tuesday.
“We are ecstatic to announce that we will be relocating our ACHE Biological Research Lab to this new location, taking its current space from 7000 square-feet to a massive 120,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art research facility,” Parker said. “This new location will make us the largest research institution of any osteopathic school in the nation. We will now have the space to focus on other types of research. As such, we are creating the Health & Wellness Center which will focus on holistic health.”
The ACHE Board of Trustees voted in full support of the purchase of the facility, stated John Taylor, chair of the ACHE Board.
“We see this as another opportunity to further the ACHE mission to educate healthcare professionals; create health and research facilities; and to improve the lives of others,” Taylor said.
The building currently has one and a half floors that are occupied. The medical college hired Newmark Moses Tucker Partners, the second-largest property management company in the state of Arkansas, to manage the property. Newmark Moses Tucker Partners will handle all current and future leases.