UC Davis Health California Tower

Challenge

UC Davis Health needed a replacement hospital tower that could support future growth, enhance patient care, and provide flexibility during public health emergencies. The project called for a modern facility with expanded emergency services, diagnostic and treatment spaces, pharmacy services, heliports, and patient units capable of adapting to changing levels of care. The health system also required infrastructure designed to remain resilient under future climate conditions and support continuity of operations during utility disruptions.

Solution

Mazzetti provided mechanical and plumbing design services, along with lighting controls, for the new 14-story, 930,000-square-foot hospital tower. Before design began, Mazzetti supported the project at the programmatic level by providing MEP, fire protection, and IT/LV planning to inform space planning decisions and validate utility connections. The replacement tower was designed with acuity-adaptable patient rooms that can function as ICU or medical-surgical beds and convert to negative-pressure isolation rooms when needed. The facility also incorporates expanded emergency services, diagnostic and treatment areas, pharmacy functions, operating rooms, imaging services, and burn care facilities within a flexible, future-focused healthcare environment.

Outcome

When completed, the project will include a 14-story hospital tower and a five-story pavilion, creating approximately 1 million square feet of new space and nearly doubling the size of the existing medical complex. The design will provide approximately 400 private patient rooms and give UC Davis Health the flexibility to respond to surges in critical care demand. Heating and cooling infrastructure is designed around future climate conditions and includes the capability to maintain operations using portable equipment if campus utilities are disrupted, helping create a resilient healthcare facility prepared for future challenges.