UC Irvine starts construction of $1.3 billion medical complex

Officials have broken ground on a $1.3-billion project construct a new medical complex at UC Irvine. The 800,000 sq. ft. structure will include an acute care hospital, comprehensive cancer center and advanced care facility.

UCI Health Chief Executive Chad T. Lefteris called the project the “next chapter of healthcare in Orange County,” The Daily Pilot reported on Nov. 16.

“The new UCI Medical Center — Irvine will be a full-service academic medical complex, bringing a broad range of the most advanced healthcare services to coastal and southern Orange County, including access to the hundreds of clinical trials underway at UCI Health,” he said in a statement.

In addition to the 350,000-sq. ft. acute care hospital, the medical complex will feature:

• The 225,000-sq. ft. Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building;
• The 168,000-sq. ft. UCI Health Center for Advanced Care, which will include adult primary and specialty care services, comprehensive laboratory and radiology facilities, imaging services and urgent care.
• The Center for Children’s Health, which will provide comprehensive pediatric outpatient services, including pediatric primary care, subspecialty clinics, rehabilitation and simulation services.