Located on 72 acres in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, the Harbor/UCLA Medical Center is a certified Level I Trauma Center affiliated with the UCLA Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. JGM was part of a joint venture team providing architectural and engineering design services for the addition of 93,000 square foot ambulatory care unit which provides outpatient primary care which allowed for the 174,000 square foot renovation of existing surgery/emergency departments and central supply services. Forty-five thousand square feet of vacated space were utilized in support of ancillary functions. Additionally, ew elevator tower was added improving vertical hospital circulation and a helipad will be relocated at grade closer to the surgery unit.

Seismic components are focused on the separation of the Patient Tower from the remaining seismically-adequate components of the complex. Alternatives were evaluated to optimize dollars spent on structural improvements versus those spent on other types of construction, required to correct non-structural deficiencies.

The adopted design minimizes impact on internal operation, enhances the overall appearance and improves accessibility. It employs an external moment frame system coupled with fiber-wrapping to all external columns. This approach eliminated the need for internal shear walls or for internal saw- cutting of existing shear walls.

The seismic retrofit work is based upon the Alquist Hospital Facilities Seismic Safety Act and Senate Bill 1953 criteria, which sets targets for certain seismic performance goals. From a structural safety stand point, it is anticipated that the upgraded facility may be used to provide acute care services beyond 2030.