Developers of a 14-square-mile project in Florida are working to turn Orlando's Lake Nona into an oasis of wellness and cutting-edge healthcare, reports The New York Times.
The project, once completed, will feature hospitals, hotels, office buildings, schools and colleges, recreational and sports training facilities, retail centers, entertainment spots and, eventually, about 11,000 homes and more than 25,000 residents, according to the article.
One intent with the project is wellness.
The developer, Tavistock Development Company, enticed major medical and research institutions to move to the Lake Nona property as part of a life-sciences cluster with grants and free plots of land, according to the report. The deal was also sweetened by state and local government incentives. This cluster, now known as Medical City, includes Nemours Children's Hospital; the University of Central Florida Medical Center; the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute; the University of Florida Research and Academic Center; the GuideWell Innovation Center, a research, education and incubation hub; and a Veterans Affairs hospital.
James Zboril, president of the Tavistock Development Company, said the company invited Lake Nona residents — about 11,000 people so far — to consider themselves a "living laboratory" and participate in formal health studies run by on-site institutions over many years, reports The New York Times. For now, the article states, residents are offered free activities such bike races, tai chi and yoga.
According to the report, more than 10 million square feet of construction has been completed on the project for more than $3 billion.
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