Design-build team selected for $1.695 billion Harbor-UCLA Medical Center replacement design and construction

Hensel Phelps, HMC Architects and CO Architects have been selected to lead the design and construction of the $1.695 billion Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Replacement Program.

When complete, the design-build project will consolidate medical services into new facilities on the 72-acre campus and ensure Harbor-UCLA Medical Center complies with Senate Bill 1953, which takes effect in 2030 and requires all California hospitals to be structurally resilient in the event of a major earthquake.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the West Carson medical center capital project on Feb. 8

“I’m excited to lead this design-build team of healthcare design and construction experts to deliver this magnificent, state-of-the-art facility,” Hensel Phelps program manager Sandra Ichiho said in a March 17 statement. “Through this project, the county will create hundreds of local jobs and millions of dollars in business opportunities for the local community.”

The project consists of new construction of a 468,000-sq. ft. acute care inpatient tower with 346 beds, a helicopter landing pad, and an 11,000-sq. ft. warehouse; a 403,000-sq. ft.  outpatient treatment and support building and 381,000-sq. ft. above-grade parking structure; a 23,000-sq. ft. facilities and IT support building, and a new 24,000-sq. ft. central plant.

The structures will implement the county’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Development (LEED) Gold requirements by incorporating sustainable design features, the architects say.

“Adding a million square feet to an existing 70-year-old campus creates significant planning and cost challenges,” said HMC Architects’ healthcare practice leader Kirk Rose. “Our design will optimize operational flow and throughput, arrange the program at a very efficient cost, and create a beautiful new outdoor space for community enjoyment.”

Other project team members include: Bennett Group, helipad consultant; Bruce A. Miller & Associates, agency expediter; Chambers Equipment Consulting, medical equipment consultant; Choate Parking Consultants, parking design architect; Control Air Conditioning Corp./ACCO, mechanical engineer; Cosco Fire Protection, fire protection; CPP Wind Engineering, wind consultant; Degenkolb Engineers, structural engineer (inpatient); ETS Lindgren, medical shielding-MRI; Gibson Transportation Consulting, traffic and transportation engineer; HLB, specialty lighting; *JCE Structural Engineers, structural engineer (outpatient); Langan, Geotechnical Engineer; Nevell Group/Standard JV, framing/drywall; P2S, Inc., MEP engineer; Pan Pacific Mechanical, plumbing engineer; Quality Assurance Services, radiation shielding; *Rosendin Meadows JV, electrical engineer; St. Onge Company, materials management; *The Solis Group, outreach consultant; Square Peg Design, signage consultant; *Studio-MLA, landscape architect; Syska Hennessy, vertical transportation; Thornton Tomasetti, acoustic/noise/vibration/LEED/ envision/façade/waterproofing/protective design; *VCA Engineers, civil engineer; *Webb Food Service Design, food service design; Wöden Fire, code/fire/life safety.

* denotes CBE firm