CPMC Debuts New State Of The Art Hospital With Lavish Celebration

Photo Credit: CPMC

The future of health care has officially arrived in San Francisco. Last week an elite group of high profile donors was treated to an exclusive sneak peek of the new California Pacific Medical Center’s (CPMC) Van Ness campus. The $2.3 billion hospital takes up an entire block in between Geary and Post Streets and stands 11 glorious stories tall. The project was funded by Sutter Health and CPMC and will be open to patients starting on March 2.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

With 274 acute-care beds, the services offered at the state-of-the-art facility include maternity, pediatrics, transplant, emergency, cardiac, and primary care. A nine-story 476,000 square foot medical office building is located across the street from the hospital and is accessible by an underground tunnel. “For more than 150 years, it has been our privilege to serve every person who calls San Francisco home,” said Warren Browner, M.D., the CEO of CPMC. “The opening of Sutter’s CPMC Van Ness Campus provides a new and conveniently located hospital for people living throughout the city and beyond.”

Photo Credit: CPMC

A thoughtful, environmentally-conscious design incorporates natural materials, like living roof gardens, and focuses on a patient’s well-being. The hospital is the first building in North America with viscous wall dampers. A new technology that’s used extensively in Japan, viscous wall dampers absorb strong movements during a massive earthquake. When the big one strikes, the hospital will remain fully operational. “In the event of a major disaster, CPMC Van Ness Campus is built to be self-sustaining for at least four days,” said Jim Benney, R.N., senior project manager for the hospital. “We’re prepared to continue regular operations with the support of three emergency generators, food, and water.”

Photo Credit: CPMC

With massive windows and LED light bulbs, the building is also more efficient than the average hospital. A sophisticated filtration system ensures that patients have access to 100 percent clean, fresh air. Water-saving elements conserve three million gallons of water per year. 

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

To celebrate the stunning tech-forward hospital, CPMC threw a party for 600 esteemed guests, many of whom are high-level philanthropic investors in CPMC. With a Tiffany & Co. photo wall, Dom Perignon, and caviar, the 11th floor was the place to be. However, interactive exhibits stationed throughout the hospital ensured that guests moved from floor to floor. On the surgery floor, guests commanded a robot surgeon through a touch screen while enjoying craft cocktails. On the maternity floor, partygoers experienced what an expectant mother would go through when she arrives in labor while nibbling mini hot dogs.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

The ground floor cafeteria was transformed into a delicious tasting room with bites—fried chicken, leg of lamb, and more—and a lively atmosphere. A variety of musicians performed. Notables in attendance included Pia and Matt Cohler, Dr. Carolyn Chang, Farah and Victor Makras, Sloan and Roger Barnett, and David and Mary Beth Shimmon.

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Susana Bates for Drew Altizer Photography

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography

Photo Credit: Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Susana Bates for Drew Altizer Photography

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer

Photo Credit: Drew Altizer