Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month.
Fully Electric Hospital
To boost sustainability and energy savings, modern facilities are increasingly going fully electric. In Oregon, major healthcare provider Kaiser Permanente has broken ground on a new, all-electric hospital tower to replace its Sunnyside Medical Center, which opened in 1975. The seven-story, 615,000-square-foot upgrade will feature expanded capacity, advanced robotics, and modern patient amenities. When the new tower opens in 2029, the existing hospital building will be replaced with additional parking, walkways, and outdoor spaces.
Organization: Kaiser Permanente
Location: Clackamas, Ore.
Type of project: New build
Size: 615,000 square feet
Estimated cost: N/A
Status: Ground broken
Expected completion: 2029
Interesting tidbit: This project will be Oregon’s first fully electric hospital and represents Kaiser Permanente’s latest all-electric venture, with at least two similar projects under way in California. The Oregon facility is also targeting LEED Gold green building certification and is slated to become Kaiser Permanente’s 87th LEED-certified building, thus adding to the largest group of LEED-certified healthcare facilities in the U.S.
Quote: Leong Koh, executive medical director of Northwest Permanente, said the new hospital “reflects our belief that environmental health is public health, and demonstrates our responsibility to build a healthier future for the communities we serve.”
More details are available here.
Airport Upgrades for Olympics
From a cricket stadium to transportation hubs, facilities across the L.A. metro area are gearing up for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. For example, the Long Beach Airport (LGB) has launched a $37 million project to modernize its passenger concourse, upgrade critical infrastructure, and enhance the post-security travel experience ahead of the global event. Major changes include air-conditioning and restroom updates; new flooring and signage; and sustainability upgrades, including a new back-up generator and energy-efficient LED lighting.
Organization: Long Beach Airport
Location: Long Beach. Calif.
Type of project: Renovation
Size: N/A
Estimated cost: $37 million
Build team: PCL Construction Services Inc.
Status: Ground broken April 24
Expected completion: Summer 2027
Interesting tidbit: LGB was ranked the second-best airport in the nation by the Washington Post and is officially trademarked as “america’s coolest airport” (in all lowercase letters). The renovation project is designed to further elevate LGB’s existing reputation as a relaxed, Southern California travel experience while making necessary updates to infrastructure that has served millions of passengers since the concourse first opened in 2012.
Quote: Airport Director Cynthia Guidry said, “From upgraded seating and improved passenger flow to modernized infrastructure behind the scenes, these improvements will help ensure LGB remains one of the most comfortable and convenient airports in the country.”
More details are available here.
Quakeproof Tech Center
Biopharma company Gilead Sciences, McCarthy Building Cos., and other project partners recently celebrated the topping out of the New Technical Development Center (NTDC) at Gilead’s headquarters in Foster City, Calif. Once complete, the five-story, 180,000-square-foot facility will feature pilot lab spaces and advanced digital infrastructure to accelerate technology transfer and support the advancement of next-gen biologics across Gilead’s pipeline.
Organization: Gilead Sciences
Location: Foster City, Calif.
Type of project: New build
Size: 180,000 square feet
Estimated cost: N/A
Design-build team: McCarthy, DGA Architects, Salas O’Brien Structural Engineers, and BKF Engineer
Status: Topped out April 14
Expected completion: N/A
Interesting tidbit: Communities across the country have adopted building codes to help facilities withstand earthquakes. Designed to meet the Bay Area’s rigorous seismic demands and the city’s strict codes, the NTDC project incorporates advanced structural systems, including buckling-restrained braced frames, to support resilience and long-term performance. The project team has also leveraged Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design Construction (VDC) workflows alongside laser scanning tech to enhance accuracy, safety, and efficiency throughout construction.
Quote: Stacey Ma, Gilead’s EVP of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, said, “Built to be highly sustainable and digitally integrated, this building is a bold investment in American innovation and the next generation of transformational medicine.”
More details are available here.
State Park Aquarium
On Earth Day, a Florida state park broke ground on a multimillion-dollar facility dedicated to helping teach about and preserve coral, one of Florida’s most precious natural resources. Renowned for being America’s “first undersea park,” the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is building a new, state-of-the-art Discovery Center & Aquarium. The facility will offer visitors modern and expansive aquarium tanks filled with native marine species, as well as several interactive experiences, exhibits, and displays designed to create a sense of stewardship for Florida’s coral reef.
Organization: John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Location: Key Largo, Fla.
Type of project: New build
Size: N/A
Estimated cost: “Multimillion-dollar” investment
Status: Ground broken April 22
Expected completion: 2028
Interesting tidbit: With more than 350 miles of coral reef spanning from the Florida Keys to St. Lucie Inlet, Florida is home to the only living coral reef along the coast of North America. Created in response to growing concern about Florida’s coral reef in the 1950s, the park is named for John D. Pennekamp, a former editor at the Miami Herald who led efforts to protect the reef and helped rally public support for its conservation.
Quote: Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher noted, “We think [the new facility] will be a perfect starting point to explore the park’s beaches, trails, and undersea experiences.”
More details are available here.
Honorable Mentions
- OKC NBA Stadium
- Nuclear for Google Data Centers
- Dalí Museum Expansion
- Luxury Hotel in Historic Skyscraper
- More Space for Crowded Schools
Do you have a major project announcement you’d like considered for the “Under Construction” series? Please contact Editor Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.