During late October, the Collegiana, a small inn near the University of Washington, was converted into a medical housing center for UW Medical Center patients and their families. This opening is the most recent completion in an expansion of the UW campus into the surrounding University District.

The newly opened medical housing facility boasts 29 residence hotel-style rooms, kitchens, recreation facilities and other rehabilitation services.

In addition, the UW Medical Center subsidizes the costs required for residence in this facility. Patients and families pay as much as they can for medical and residential costs at the Collegiana and donated funds cover any outstanding balance.

"We are very pleased and it's exciting. There is such a big need for this type of housing, and so many patients come here from outside of the Puget Sound area," said Helen Shawcroft, UW Medical Center senior associate administrator.

The Collegiana was acquired by the UW and then assigned to the UW Medical Center Aug. 6 as part of the Safeco portfolio of properties, said Marilyn Cox, assistant vice provost for capital planning. It was recommended for use as a medical facility by the UW Tower Advisory Committee. Safeco formerly used the Collegiana as a hotel for visiting Safeco employees.

According to Mary Guiden of uweek.org, the Collegiana is not the only hotel to offer subsidized rates to medical center patients and their families. The Northgate-based Hotel Nexus, the University Inn and the Watertown all offer similarly reduced rates for patients and families.

Last year, the University of Washington bought the Safeco Tower that resides in the U-District, as well as the Collegiana, the site of the International House of Pancakes and a few other pieces of retail and commercial property. The $130 million sale was all done in an effort to consolidate the UW's administrative offices into a larger, yet more centralized space.

In response to these real estate acquisitions, President Mark Emmert said, "It secures the future of the University in a way we couldn't have done otherwise."

[Reach reporter Chris Heide at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]