Kaiser Breaks Ground on New San Diego Hospital
SAN DIEGO — Kaiser Permanente recently broke ground on a new seven-story hospital to serve the growing San Diego area.
Los Angeles-based CO Architects is serving as architect and Hensel Phelps, headquartered in Greeley, Colo., is heading construction on the $900 million project. Built on a 19-acre site, the 565,000-square-foot facility will be a partial replacement for the San Diego Medical Center and provide the growing community with the health care space it needs. The project includes a 321-bed hospital, which will have the ability to expand by an additional 129 beds, a central plant, hospital support building and an expandable parking structure. All rooms at the hospital will be private.
The health care facility will include an emergency department, operating rooms, recovery spaces, pharmacies, a gourmet cafeteria, a laboratory and a blood bank, as well as support spaces such as administrative offices and conference rooms. To create a tranquil healing space for patients and visitors, a half-mile walking trail and a wrap-around healing garden will also be made available.
“Kaiser Permanente’s new central hospital will be a high-tech hospital of the future,” said Mary Ann Barnes, senior vice president and executive director for Kaiser Permanente San Diego, in a statement. “From green design to the latest technology, it will have all the tools to provide our members with the highest quality care in a beautiful, healing and nurturing environment.”
The new hospital will have several sustainable features and aim for LEED Gold certification. The facility will use solar panels on the campus’ parking garage, thermal insulation, chilled beams and LED light fixtures throughout to reduce energy demands. The facility will also employ rainwater utilization and waste recycling systems, and place focus on using locally produced materials for both construction and landscaping.
Technology that will be utilized at the hospital includes video conferencing, touch screens in patient rooms and surgical robots.
The project is aiming for a 2017 completion date.