Group Health to shift offices: 1,500 jobs leaving downtown.(Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound)

Struggling against heavy losses, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound plans to save millions of dollars in rent by moving about 1,500 office workers out of downtown Seattle into less expensive space in Tukwila or Kent.

One possible location is The Boeing Co.'s huge Space Center East office complex, which the aerospace company has put up for sale.

"We have looked at any number of spaces, including in Kent," said Group Health facilities manager Bill Biggs. "We have sent the message to staff that within a couple of years we're going to move out of expensive space in downtown to the south side."

Group Health is close to settling on a new location, said Biggs. …