This project establishes a new outpatient campus for an existing community hospital. When complete, the campus will include a medical office building for 35 doctors, an imaging center, sleep center, home care center, diagnostic laboratory, rehabilitation services, and an education center. The first phase of the campus consists of 125,000 square feet of built space.


The site is a previously undeveloped 21-acre parcel dotted with coastal live oak trees and other vegetation, as well as commanding views of the surrounding verdant hills. Our initial effort was master planning the site for an ultimate build-out, assisting the owner in obtaining planning approvals. The project then included initial programming and design, consisting of an ancillary/imaging building and a medical office building.

To conserve the site for future development, and for ease of access for patients, each of the two initial buildings is constructed over one level of below-grade parking. The buildings are designed to harmonize with their natural setting while projecting an image of quality that is consistent with the hospital’s reputation in the community.

The site is part of an office/research/light-industrial area. Development standards include restrictions on building height and a mandate that 45% of each parcel be maintained in an undeveloped, natural state. The site has a significant slope and is accessible from only two sides. The need to accommodate parking and still maintain open space made working out internal vehicular circulation a challenge. This was resolved by creating an upper campus and lower campus as two separate destinations, while allowing traffic to feed through the parking lots between the two.

Other challenges were met by the careful selection of exterior materials, the creation of two arrival/drop-off plazas (for upper and lower campuses), and the establishment of a U-shaped courtyard between the buildings that will act as a gathering place.

The pathway (corridors and exterior walkways) from arrival point to waiting areas is easily followed and offers abundant natural light and views. Waiting areas are adjacent to exterior windows. Internal departmental circulation allows for easy access to treatment areas. Departments are planned so that common areas, such as copy rooms and break rooms, can be shared. Site expansion is planned so that the infrastructure will support new buildings without compromising planning and design concepts.

Project category: Project in progress (May 2004)

Chief administrator: Thomas Glavin, President & CEO, (831) 658-2203

Firm: Gordon H Chong & Partners, (415) 433-0120

Design team: John Ruffo, Partner; Bryan Shiles, Design Partner; John Sealander, Associate Partner

Illustration: John Sealander

Total building area (GSF): 125,000

Construction cost/sq. ft.: Not released

Total cost (excluding land): Not released