Earthquakes, COVID-19 Affect Medical Center Design

To meet California’s seismic standards by 2030, UC Davis Health System to undertake $3.75 billion project

By By Dan Hounsell


COVID-19 has upended nearly every aspect of healthcare facilities over the last year, and the impact goes well beyond day-to-day operations. The pandemic also is changing the way healthcare organizations are designing and planning new facilities. But COVID-19 isn’t the only earth-shaking force at work on healthcare design.

To meet California’s seismic standards by a 2030 deadline, UC Davis Health System is proposing to replace its current Sacramento hospital buildings as part of a $3.75 billion project that would boast an expanded 16-story tower and five-floor pavilion, according to the Sacramento Bee.

In the preliminary proposal, UC Davis is recommending an increase in the number of licensed beds, growing to 700 from the 625 it has today. Because there will be more private rooms, the proposed structure will be double the square footage of the current hospital in Oak Park, UC Davis officials said. A number of studies have shown that private rooms cut down on patients’ stress, making it easier for them to sleep and reducing the time needed for recovery.

After the challenges of meeting surge capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, UC Davis officials are planning to ensure that a great number of rooms would be designed so they can be switched over to intensive-care rooms if needed.

Click here to read the article.



March 3, 2021


Topic Area: Architecture


Recent Posts

3 Ways to Minimize Disruption During Construction in Healthcare

Addressing potential construction challenges requires close collaboration among owners, facility managers, administrators, subcontractors and crews.


St. Luke's University Health Network to Open Heart Hospital in October

The new Heart Hospital adds 140 beds and nearly doubles the size of the Anderson Campus yet again.


Wellstar Health System Completes Acquisition of Mountain Lakes Medical Center

The acquisition of the northeast Georgia-based hospital comes following the conclusion of regulatory requirements and customary closing conditions.


Parking: Where the Outpatient Land Crunch Shows First

Healthcare systems that treat parking as a strategic design variable from the first feasibility pass will have more sites to choose from.


Clear Behavioral Health Opens New Outpatient Mental Health Center in Anaheim Hills

It offers an intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adults and teens ages 13 to 17 across east Anaheim and the surrounding communities.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.