This project thoughtfully integrated a six-story LEED Gold-targeted inpatient tower into the existing medical campus. The new building includes 72 beds, with future room for 20 more. This increases the medical center to 448 beds, making it the second largest hospital for Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. Additionally, three new operating rooms, future IR/cardiac catheterization spaces, 16 PACU bays, a sterile processing department, anesthesia offices, and general services areas are included in the new hospital tower expansion.

The challenges that arise during the process include the conflict between the public circulation and proposed development, relocation of emergency department entrance, and maintaining uninterrupted ambulance and service vehicle access. To solve these challenges, the project team used site master planning to locate new tower addition, parking structure, and CUP addition. And this resulted in improved safety and wayfinding for the campus. The team also thoroughly analyzed the existing utilities and developed plans for a central utility plant expansion. Finally, the primary challenge was to create a plan that would not disrupt the 24/7 operations of a busy medical center, which was resolved by developing multiple phases.

The design team paid particular attention to creating a seamless experience for patients and staff. For example, a new dedicated emergency department walk-in entry enhances wayfinding, allowing visitors easy access to the new addition. On the new patient room floors, centralized workstations give staff members easier patient access and create a flexible working space. Furthermore, on a site with more than 1,000 parking spaces, the new parking structure redistributes the parking population throughout the campus to reduce overcrowding.

The project also focused on creating a humanistic healing experience. Starting from check-in, a calming mural greets the visitors. The Light-filled, colorful waiting areas create a comfortable environment for patients and families. Full panoramic windows bring abundant daylight to patient rooms and an innovative, unitized curtain wall façade system provides optimal daylighting and views to public spaces and access to comfortable outdoor spaces for visitors and staff to relax.  Sky terraces on each floor pop out from the façade, provide much-needed respite areas, and are immediately accessible to patients and caregivers. Lastly, the organic healing garden just outside the window is visible from the street and further enhances the community's urban experience and connection to this facility.