New Eden Hospital Project Update: Three Months Until the Building Is Turned Over

Posted on Apr 12, 2012

By Julie Ruiz-Wibbelsmann

We’re beginning our countdown to the completion of our new Eden Hospital in Castro Valley. With just three months left before the keys are handed over, we’ve designed a hospital that’s first in clinical care and patient safety–all in a “green” building.

Digby Christian, Sutter Health Project Manager

“Hospitals generally use a lot of energy, so it’s a major victory to create a building that combines all of these elements,” explains Digby Christian, Sutter Health project manager. “The new hospital provides a safe, healing environment in a high-performing, sustainable green building.”

To save energy, our building uses very efficient equipment–such as cooling towers and air handlers—that meet all clinical care and patient safety goals. The exterior “skin” of the hospital as well as the roof are made from energy efficient materials so that the entire building is well insulated, even with the many glass windows letting in the light of day.

“We’ve pushed the boundaries of design by using accurate 3D modeling. With our design process, we can see how everything will work together while we are designing the building, rather than in the field–while we’re building it,” says Christian.

So far, we’ve almost completed the entire exterior of our new hospital. Our external canopies and spire are the final elements to be completed in May and June, respectively. You can see the hospital from start to present by clicking the “time lapse” button on the top of the page on our live Eden Medical Center Webcam.

“By the end of April, we expect to complete the installation of all major medical equipment for our interior build out,” notes Christian. “We are currently commissioning all systems. This involves not only finishing all construction but also ensuring that all systems work correctly, such as the air conditioning system, fire alarms, the pneumatic tube system, etc.”

After the new building is turned over in July, the move-in of furniture, computers and mobile medical equipment will take place, along with the training of staff and the deployment of the electronic health record (EHR)–all in time to see the first patient in December of this year. The final step in the next few months will be the relocation of all existing equipment.