UC Davis Health, a nationally renowned academic health center that’s part of the University of California, Davis, is building a major new ambulatory surgery center. To learn more about the $589 million project, Facilities Management Advisor recently spoke with an executive at the organization.
Called the 48X Complex due to its location at the corner of 48th and X streets in Sacramento, the new facility is currently under construction. It will include 14 operating rooms, 59 pre-and post-operative recovery bays, and 14 single-occupant overnight recovery rooms. The facility will also include clinical support, pharmacy, imaging and physical therapy services, and administrative support space.
Quick Facts
Organization: UC Davis Health
Location: Sacramento, Calif.
Type of project: New construction
Size: ~266,000 square feet
Estimated cost: $589 million
General contractor: DPR Construction
Status: Construction started November 2022
Expected completion: Q2 2025
Executive Q&A
Jill Tomczyk, executive director of strategic programs at UC Davis Health, provided more project details in the following Q&A:
What is the main purpose of this project for your organization?
Currently, most UC Davis Health outpatient surgical procedures are performed at the main hospital. The 48X Complex project will enable UC Davis Health to provide even more high-quality care in the Sacramento region by: 1) moving outpatient surgeries out of the main hospital to free up inpatient resources; 2) enhancing surgery capacity to accommodate existing demand and expected growth; 3) enabling expansion of complex procedures and therapies; and 4) improving the patient experience by reducing wait times for elective procedures.
Are there any special architectural aspects/design elements worth noting?
Sacramento, known as the City of Trees, is rich in history and vibrancy. Its people, culture, art, and the ebb and flow of the rivers that shape the agricultural landscape are the tapestry that inspired the design of the 48X Complex. The converging of the landscape with building design is a key concept to the 48X Complex. As the building folds and guides pedestrians to key focal points, like the lobby space and breezeway, the landscape complements this sense of movement. This flow of spaces will be executed spatially and expressed through the building material. There will be variations of colors and textures that run horizontally at the base levels, giving the illusion of movement.
Another key design feature of the 48X Complex is a landscaped pedestrian “Green Boulevard” that runs through the building from north to south, from a key parking structure to patient clinics. To support this concept, the proposed design creates a paseo that allows a continuous flow of pedestrians with unobstructed views. This is also a great wayfinding element that provides a pleasant and intuitive walking experience for patients, staff, and students. This new amenity space will provide a destination on the east side of the UC Davis Health campus that can support gathering areas, places of respite, a café and seating areas, and public art that can be enjoyed by visitors and the surrounding community.
What types of new or interesting technology will the facility include?
The project will employ numerous state-of-the-art technologies to support patient care and medical procedures, as well as infrastructure to support emerging and future technologies. Examples of technologies include robotic surgical systems that use a minimally invasive surgical approach, spaces for advanced and computer-guided procedures, and the latest technologies in diagnostics and imaging equipment.
How might the facility specifically address the health and safety of occupants?
As an ambulatory care facility, nearly every decision on the project is made to support the health and safety of patients and staff.
What types of security features will the facility have?
Fairly standard security features such as access control, video surveillance, on-site security personnel, etc.
Will the project incorporate sustainability initiatives or technology ?
The University of California is committed to responsible stewardship of resources and to demonstrating leadership in sustainable business practices. The 48X Complex, as with all university facilities, will be a living laboratory for sustainability, contributing to our research and educational mission. The project includes strategies to increase energy efficiency, utilize clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize waste.
The project is designed to meet or exceed LEED Silver with an Energy Use Intensity (EUI) target of “33% below ASHRAE 90.1 2010 baseline” and a stretch target of “40% below ASHRAE 90.1 2010 baseline.”
Do you expect any design or build challenges, and if so, how might you overcome them?
Completing the project in an accelerated timeframe is the greatest challenge the team faces. The project utilizes a progressive design-build delivery model and lean construction methods to increase collaboration and expedite delivery of the project. Additionally, the project utilizes multiple packages to closely align with the sequencing of the work and to release construction activities sooner than a traditional approach would allow.
Were initial project plans changed? If so, why?
The project was initially conceived as solely an ambulatory surgery center, but specialty clinics and a more robust platform of additional services were added late in the program development phase. Bringing these services—which currently reside in multiple locations on campus—under one roof will create operational synergies and optimize the experience and convenience for patients.
Anything else you’d like to add about the project?
Prototypical mock-ups were created for several key spaces within the building. We sought feedback from a wide group of users and stakeholders, including patient focus groups. The mock-ups helped to ensure that all parties would have input on the details of the design and helped to optimize the design overall.
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.