PITTSBURGH-Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. picked up the191,612-square-foot Federal North medical office building inPennsylvania's second-largest city for approximately $40.5million.

The class A asset--which is 99% occupied with a mix of long-termtenants--is located within two blocks of the 724-bed AlleghenyGeneral Hospital, the flagship hospital in the West Penn AlleghenyHealth System, the latter of which accounts for more than 25% ofthe patient market share here and in the surrounding five-stateregion.

"This acquisition is consistent with our long-term strategy ofacquiring high quality medical office buildings in key markets,which are affiliated with strong healthcare systems," says Mark D.Engstrom, executive vice president of acquisitions for theScottsdale, AZ-based non-traded REIT. To his point, during the pastdecade, Pittsburgh has added nearly 4,000 jobs each year in thehealthcare industry.