The University of California, San Diego Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center has just been awarded LEED® Gold certification. The 120,000 square foot addition to Thornton Hospital is focused on comprehensive heart health by combining clinic spaces, non-invasive procedure rooms, cardio surgery rooms and recovery beds all under one roof. The design process of the facility began in 2005, well before the LEED guidelines for Healthcare were established. It was important to both UCSD and the design team to create a building that was as thoughtful to the environment as possible, even though LEED certification was not a possibility at that time. The facility design takes full advantage of the movement of the sun with shading devices and massing elements to minimize heat gain and thus reduce energy consumption. The design also embraces the idea of blurring the lines between interior and exterior to provide the facility with a "natural" feel that picks up on the stunning geography of the nearby coastal canyons. During the construction process in 2008, UCSD asked the construction and design team to work together to achieve a LEED certified building under LEED NC guidelines. After some initial investigation, the team found that LEED Silver was readily achievable. After its completion, the building was certified LEED Gold with very little additional cost and only minor adjustments, a remarkable achievement considering it had such a late start in the certification process. We are proud that one of our 'innovation and design' credits was awarded for creating a uniquely collaborative team that allowed us to maximize opportunities for integrated and cost-effective delivery. This not only produced a LEED Gold certified building, but also a beautiful hospital that was constructed on schedule, under budget and will provide superb heart health to the San Diego community for years to come.

Project Information

Project Address: 

9434 Medical Center Drive La Jolla, CA 92093

Project Owner/ Developer: 

University of California San Diego

Owner Contact Name/ Email: 

Randy Leopold, rleopold@ucsd.edu

Project Architect/ Designer: 

RTKL Associates Inc.

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