The New Sutter Medical Center Takes Shape

Santa Rosa, California - After years of planning, design and public hearings, construction is well underway. Sutter Medical Center’s (Sutter) new $284 million dollar state-of-the-art medical campus is on schedule to open in 2014.

On-Site Improvements

• This month Sutter will begin the second phase of Surcharge. This means that the dirt pile that you see today will move east to compress the soil of another section of the property to prepare the ground for foundation work. We expect this section of the site will reach its compression goal by summer.
• Beginning in May we anticipate onsite road work to being with improvement to the existing main entrance road and development of parking lots.
• Foundation work will start in August.
• In the beginning of January 2012, residents will see structural steel framing for the hospital arise at the construction site.

Off-Site Road Improvements

The below development will improve traffic flow into and out of the campus entrance on Mark West Springs Road as well as prevent back ups on the north bound off ramp during commute and popular Wells Fargo Center for the Arts (WFC) events. The more than $6 million invested will build out roadway improvements to 2035 needs which will benefit entire Mark West community.

• In May we will underground all current above ground utilities such as PG&E, ATT and Comcast utilities (wooden poles, pipes and cables).
• In addition a new signal will be installed at the main entrance on Mark West Springs Road. The new traffic signal and added entrance driveway lanes will improve traffic flow into and out of the main entrance for WFC.
• The look and feel on the frontage boundary on Mark West Springs Road will be upgraded by way of landscape grading planting, sidewalks and also expand storm drainage.
• A new bus stop will be constructed on the north side of Mark West Springs Road.
• Plus construction of the northbound freeway off-amp will be widened to include two right hand turn lanes which at times can be backed up during a popular event at the WFC.

“This is a very exciting time for our community. Sutter’s investment of $284 million in a seismically safe medical facility will provide needed economic stimulus and an estimated 1,500 local jobs during the construction period”, said Mike Purvis, Chief Administrative Officer.

In March, Sutter was recognized as a 2011 GreenCare Organization for taking steps to provide an environmentally friendly facility to patients and the community. This national recognition program highlights the commitment of healthcare organizations like Sutter striving to practice sustainable medicine with practices such as;

• LEED Certification Registration
• Construction Recycling Program
• Power Purchasing from Renewable Resources
• Use of Passive Solar Technologies
• Energy Efficient Windows, Insulation, Materials (California Title 24)
• Water Conservation, Offset Program
• Use of Bioswales and Catch Basins
• Electronic Vehicle Charging Stations
• Employee Incentives for Carpooling, Transit and Cycling

Information about Sutter Medical Center’s environmentally sustainable practices is available via the hospital construction website. This new website details hospital plans, construction timelines, local jobs, green design, and earthquake safety. Visitors to www.suttersantarosa.org/newhospital will also find the latest construction news, photos, videos, architectural renderings, fly through virtual tours, and frequently asked questions.

The new Sutter Medical Center will provide the full range of five-star personalized care and award-winning services currently provided at the Chanate Campus including: intensive care; emergency services; obstetrics, nursery care and level III neonatal intensive care; medical and surgical services; invasive cardiac surgery; supporting ancillary services; and a full range of women’s reproductive health services.

Sutter Medical Center is not for profit and part of the Sutter Health Network.

About the GreenCare Awards

Created in collaboration with Strategic Sustainability Consulting and co-sponsored by healthcare insight and MD News magazines, the GreenCare Awards provide healthcare organizations across America a platform from which to promote green initiatives and ideas to their community and peers. The GreenCare Awards annually highlights the nation’s leading hospitals, healthcare systems, and physician practices committed not only to caring for patients, but also to protecting the planet. By achieving excellence in environmentally friendly health care, GreenCare organizations are advancing the practice of medicine and improving the quality of patient care—now and for future generations. From recycling and reducing waste to community education and LEED Certification®, recipients of the annual GreenCare Award are America’s healthcare organizations committed to environmental sustainability and stewardship of our planet’s natural resources. For more information about the GreenCare Awards, visit www.greencareawards.com.