Construction is in full swing at Loma Linda University Health as demolition and dirt moving make way for the transformational vision of the organization, including a new adult hospital and a new Children’s Hospital tower.
Loma Linda University Health has released the official renderings for the new Loma Linda University Medical Center and Children’s Hospital towers, designed by NBBJ. The groundbreaking for the hospitals is scheduled for spring of next year.
California passed new seismic requirements for hospitals that mandate a new adult hospital by the year 2020.
“This has created a challenge that has been embraced as an opportunity to step forward in faith and an opportunity to build a new state-of-the-art hospital that best serves patients, medical staff and the students who train at Loma Linda University Health,” says Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, president, Loma Linda University Health.
Slated for completion in December 2019, the new adult hospital and Children’s Hospital tower will meet the growing needs of the Inland Empire. While the total number of licensed beds will not be increasing, all of the rooms will be completely private, maximizing efficiency, utilization and quality of care.
The new adult hospital will have 288 licensed beds with a future capacity for 320; and the expanded Children’s Hospital will have a total of 349 licensed beds, which includes existing compliant beds, and will have a future capacity of 377.
The new adult tower will be approximately 267 feet tall and the second tallest building in the Inland Empire.
In early August, demolition of old buildings on Prospect Avenue began, making way for the new hospital complex.
In addition to the planned hospitals, ground was broken for a new multilevel patient parking structure earlier this year on the corner of Campus Street and Barton Road, which will pave the way for the larger hospital project. Another parking structure will also break ground in late 2015 at the Faculty Medical Offices on Anderson Street.
In July 2014, Vision 2020: The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow was revealed as the organization’s largest endeavor in its 110-year history with an intent to raise $360 million.
Rachelle Bussell, senior vice president for advancement, announced recently that over half of the Vision 2020 campaign goal has been raised.
“In grateful thanks to the community and business leaders,” Bussell says, “we are pleased to share that over $194 million has been raised to date of the needed $360 million in philanthropic support for Vision 2020 projects.”
The entire vision for the future will include capital expenditures of about $1.4 billion. Beyond the Vision 2020 philanthropic campaign, additional funding for health care will come from state grants, bond financing and cash flow from operations.
Concurrently, Vision 2020 is also raising funds to enhance scholarships, support research and expand the Wholeness Institute. Education and training for service are central to each of these plans for the future, as Loma Linda University Health lives out its mission to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.