Shovels will be in the ground by summer at Allina Health's booming WestHealth medical campus in Plymouth, where construction is set to begin on a $17 million spa-like facility to care for patients on the mend who aren't yet ready to go home.

Allina is partnering with Presbyterian Homes on what it calls "a new generation of transitional care," which will include 56 private suites and the latest high-tech treatments and rehab programs.

Although Presbyterian Homes is better known as a developer of senior housing and assisted-living facilities, the new facility with underground parking will be used by patients of any age who might need assistance, such as after surgery or due to other complex sets of illnesses.

Minneapolis-based Kirk Velett of Insite Architects is the lead architect on the project, at Interstate 494 and Hwy. 55. A builder hasn't been selected, said Allina spokeswoman Gloria O'Connell.

The project is in line with Allina's focus in recent years to invest in capital projects related to "ambulatory facilities, clinics and home health care" instead of building new hospitals, noted Chris Jacobson, a health care real estate adviser for the national commercial real estate firm CBRE.

Allina opened an $8 million, 24-hour, full-service emergency department at West­Health last month. In 2011, it bought out North Memorial's 50 percent stake in West­Health to take full ownership.

Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335