When Kaiser Permanente’s new medical office building opens on Tuesday, Aug. 1, there will be a nod to the city’s past and the medical company’s future.

The 28,300-square-foot building on Imperial Highway in La Habra that representatives call a “high-technology office” is the first such facility to be built in Orange County.

It’s also the benchmark on how future Kaiser medical office buildings will look and be operated, said Jennifer Yang, the La Habra Medical Office Building manager.

“It’s going to be a learning curve,” Yang said. “We are trying every concept.”

Some of the concepts: being able to check in to an appointment from your smartphone 24 hours in advance, similar to checking in for a flight; self-service pay kiosks; and service representatives approaching customers as they walk into the building instead of a member standing in line waiting for a receptionist.

The new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra is the first high-technology building in Orange County for the company. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

The second floor waiting area at the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

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A sign at the entrance to new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra shows members the 1/3 mile walking path that is on the property. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

The seating area at the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building will feature Wi-Fi and numerous locations for members to charge their electronics. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

A art pieced titled, “Tierra Dulce” stands outside one of the entrances at the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Building Office. The medical office opens Aug. 1. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)



A marker at the base of the artwork outside the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra. The artwork titled, “Tierra Dulce” was created by Gerard Basil Stripling. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

The nurses stations at the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

Different walking paths are set up throughout the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

A poster with the full-time physicians at the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building will be on display for new customers beginning Aug. 1. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

Local artwork that displays the history of La Habra lines the walls of the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)



Glass windows are throughout the building to allow natural light in during the day a the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)



Local artwork that displays the history of La Habra lines the walls of the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)



Local artwork that displays the history of La Habra lines the walls of the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)



The second-floor waiting area at new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building in La Habra. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

Local artwork that displays the history of La Habra lines the walls of the new Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building. (Anthony Mendoza, Staff)

With a growing number of members in North Orange County, Yang said it is hoped that the location of this office will reduce the crunch on Kaiser’s Brea medical facility.

“We have about 50,000 people that use the Brea medical office,” Yang said. “We are hoping to move members from there to this office instead, since they live in this area.”

The city has been encouraging medical-related business to come to La Habra because they offer local jobs and services, said Andrew Ho, director of community and economic development.

“This new facility will bring more jobs to the community,” Ho said. “It also increases the daytime population in the city, which will drive more people to local restaurants and make the city more attractive to new businesses.”

Inside the building are pieces of artwork reflective of the agriculture history of La Habra. Outside is the first public artwork piece approved by the city, which is also representative of the city’s past and its future growth.

The artwork, named “Tierra Dulce,” or “Sweet Land,” was created by Gerard Basil Stripling. The artist has done four other public artwork pieces for Brea.

The piece stands 11 feet tall and is made out of stainless steel and cast glass is representative of the city’s agriculture history. The avocado-like texture at the bottom of the sculpture is to bring to mind the Haas avocado, and the glass at the top of the artwork represents optimism, opportunity, and growth.