Healthcare officials break ground on Arlington medical building
Published 2:08 pm Wednesday, July 8, 2026
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Skagit Regional Health breaks ground at the site for a new medical plaza on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Arlington, Washington. (Oli
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Skagit Regional Health CMO Jennifer Benson, MD speaks at a groundbreaking for a new medical plaza on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Arlington, Washington. (Oli
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Skagit Regional Health CEO Brian Ivie speaks at a groundbreaking for a new medical plaza on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Arlington, Washington. (Oli
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Skagit Regional Health CMO Jennifer Benson, MD speaks at a groundbreaking for a new medical plaza on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Arlington, Washington. (Oli
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Skagit Regional Health CEO Brian Ivie speaks at a groundbreaking for a new medical plaza on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Arlington, Washington. (Oli
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Skagit Regional Health breaks ground at the site for a new medical plaza on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 in Arlington, Washington. (Oli
ARLINGTON — Local healthcare officials broke ground Tuesday on a new medical office building next to Cascade Valley Hospital in Arlington
The three-story, 30,000-square-foot building will include urgent care, family medicine, and X-ray and lab services. The project aims to address Arlington’s growing population and need for healthcare, officials said Tuesday
The project is a joint effort of Snohomish County Public Hospital District No. 3, also known as Stilly Valley Health Connections, and Skagit County Hospital District No. 1, also known as Skagit Regional Health. In 2016, Skagit Regional Health assumed operations of Cascade ValleyHospital, and the two organizations have been working together since. Skagit Regional Health did not immediately respond Wednesday to questions regarding the cost of the building
The organizations hope to open the new facility in the fall of 2027
“We know how important it is for people to have access to high-quality care close to home, and whether it’s a working parent trying to fit in an appointment for a child, or a senior managing ongoing health needs, or a family navigating something unexpected, that access truly matters,” said Brian Ivie, CEO of Skagit Regional Health
The new building will host 20 primary care providers, said Jennifer Benson, chief medical officer of Skagit Regional Health. It will also be home to an urgent care center open seven days per week. The building is specifically being designed to support a more efficient workflow and communication between teams, Benson said
“At its core, this building and this project is about access,” she said. “It’s about making it easier for people to travel to be seen where they need care and when they need care. It’s about reducing wait times, minimizing travel and ensuring that our patients receive care in a setting that feels connected to their community.”
From 2020 to 2025, Arlington’s population grew from about 20,000 to 22,000 By 2044, the city is expected to grow to a population of nearly 35,000, according to a 2024 report from Snohomish County Tomorrow
“More people are choosing to build their lives and futures in this community,” said Frei Burton, chair of the Skagit Regional Health Board of Commissioners. “That’s exciting, but with that growth also comes responsibility. As a public hospital district, we are entrusted with something incredibly important, and that’s helping ensure that communities have access to high-quality healthcare when and where they need it.”
When the Snohomish County board decided to enter into an agreement with Skagit Regional Health in 2016, it was to keep Cascade Valley Hospital afloat amid rising healthcare costs, said Tim Cavanagh, chair of the Stilly Valley Health Connections Board of Commissioners. Cascade Valley Hospital was the last independent hospital in Snohomish County
“What we see today is not even just the three years it took to figure out where to build it and what to build and who to build it, it was actually who to be with, who we could trust, and we have really forged a deep bond,” Cavanagh said. “We’re not just one hospital and another hospital, we’re actually a collaborative. We are a community health organization that serves north Snohomish and Skagit County, and we’re very proud of that.”
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn
