Nine months after we last stopped by in West Carson, work continues for the $1.8-billion revamp of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.

The centerpiece of the campus, and the final building under construction, is a nine-story, 555,000-square-foot hospital tower that will feature 347 patient beds - including a 44-bed intensive care unit, 200 medical-surgical beds, 20 neonatal intensive care units beds, and 36 mental health beds. The steel-frame building topped out at a ceremony on May 5.

“As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Harbor-UCLA is a lifeline for South LA residents, delivering high-quality and equitable care for some of our most vulnerable communities,” said L.A. County Department of Health Services director Dr. Christina Ghaly. “I am incredibly proud to be a part of this project, which will ensure that our patients and workforce have the necessary infrastructure to ensure we continue to deliver excellent care for generations to come.”

Construction at Harbor-UCLA Medical CenterUrbanize LA

Hensel Phelps, HMC Architects, and CO Architects comprise the design-build team for the clinic building. Completion of the full project in 2028.

The new construction has been prompted by SB 1953, state legislation which requires California hospitals to retrofit or rebuild aging facilities for earthquake safety by 2030. Numerous other medical centers within Los Angeles County, including Cedars-Sinai and Kaiser Permanente, have recently undertaken similar efforts.

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