Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian acquired Orange County’s iconic Ziggurat property, capping off a yearslong pursuit that positions the nonprofit health system to reshape one of the county’s largest redevelopment sites.
Hoag, acting through the affiliate Laguna Ridge Health Care Development LLC, paid $207 million for the 89-acre former Chet Holifield Federal Building campus at 24000 Avila Road in Laguna Niguel, the Orange County Business Journal reported.
The acquisition wraps up a winding sales process for the 1-million-square-foot former federal office complex. Hoag lost last year’s online federal auction to a joint venture led by Pintar Investment Company and Hilco Development Services, which bid $177 million. After Hoag challenged the process in a lawsuit, the U.S. General Services Administration rescinded the winning bid, briefly named Hoag as the buyer, then scrapped the sale altogether before relisting the property earlier this year. Hoag ultimately prevailed, paying roughly $30 million more than last year’s winning offer.
The Newport Beach-based hospital system has eyed the site since 2023 as the centerpiece of its expansion into south Orange County. CEO Robert Braithwaite said the campus will become a “health and wellness village,” advancing Hoag’s long-term strategy of building a regional healthcare hub and expanding access throughout the county.
The purchase also clears the way for the likely demolition of one of Orange County’s most recognizable landmarks. The seven-story, pyramid-shaped brutalist structure, designed by architect William Pereira, has long been considered functionally obsolete despite its architectural significance. Federal officials said Hoag will have broad redevelopment flexibility.
The deal intensifies the expansion race among healthcare providers in south Orange County. Providence Mission Hospital is investing $712 million in new facilities in San Clemente and Rancho Mission Viejo, while Hoag has expanded into San Clemente, Dana Point, Foothill Ranch and Trabuco Canyon as it works toward its goal of placing one of its facilities within a 10-minute drive of every Orange County household. In Irvine, Hoag has dedicated $1 billion to expand its facilities by more than 1 million square feet and double its number of beds.
— Chris Malone Méndez
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