Community Health Care of Tacoma announced today it will move its Administrative Services Office to the Washington Building in downtown Tacoma. When the move is completed by May 31, it will bring 52 employees to the central business district, according to Community Health Care spokesperson Russ Sondker. The Administrative Services Office includes leadership, operations, finance, billing, marketing/development, and human resources departments, as well as call center staff. No clinical services will be provided at the new downtown office.

Washington Building investor and owner representative Michael J. Allan told the Tacoma Daily Index Monday the organization will occupy the second and third floors of the historic downtown high-rise. “We are pleased and proud to have Community Health Care join us in the Washington Building,” said Allan. “They are a fine organization and will be bringing more than 50 people into the downtown core, so that will be good for many businesses around the heart of the city.”

Community Health Care operates five medical clinics, two dental clinics and four pharmacies. Other services of the organization include maternity support and vision services. “At Community Health Care, no one is turned away because of inability to pay,” said Sondker in a statement. “People without insurance are treated on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. Last year, the organization provided a health care home to over 31,000 patients, including over 10,000 children.”

In August 2005, a group of Seattle-based investors purchased the building, located at 1019 Pacific Avenue, for $9.6 million. In 2008, the owners completed a $200,000 lobby renovation. The upscale Encore nightclub opened in the street-level space in 2010. Another big tenant, Sterling Savings, moved into the building in 2008 and occupies the entire 13th floor. In 2010, however, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office moved down the street to Pacific Plaza — leaving behind six floors of vacant space.

The 18-story, 125,000-square-foot Washington Building officially opened on July 2, 1925. Today, it is listed on the national and state historic registers.

Last year, the Index interviewed Allan and building manager David B. Morton.

In 2008, the Index reported on the building’s lobby renovation.