Engineering News-Record names Palomar Health's new green, high-tech hospital "Best of the Best Health Care Projects" winner for 2012 as well as best health care and overall construction project in California. "The Hospital of the Future" opened in August.

San Diego, Calif. (PRWEB) December 27, 2012

The awards were presented to Palomar Health, CO Architects and DPR Construction for their exemplary and innovative work on the new hospital. Projects were judged by design and construction professionals. Palomar Medical Center, known as "The Hospital of the Future," is featured in the December edition of ENR California.

In February, the editors of ENR will select one project from the national Best of the Best Projects winners as the Editors choice. Palomar Medical Center, as the winner in the Health Care category, is eligible for this award.

According to ENR editors, the Best of the Best Projects winners are truly outstanding examples for the entire construction industry of teamwork, safety, overcoming challenges, innovation and quality.

Palomar Healths flagship hospital opened on August 19, about four months after construction was completed and was paid in part through a bond passed by North San Diego County voters in 2004. The 11-story, 288-bed Palomar Medical Center is one of the largest buildings in the United States to use an integrated project delivery method and one of two hospitals in the nation with day-lighted operating rooms. At its groundbreaking in 2007, it was the largest project under construction in California. DPR took over construction management in 2008.

Many design and planning decisions were guided by patient-centric, experience-based design, which included documented input from individuals in all hospital departments. Flexibility was built in so the hospital can continually accommodate the changes to equipment, technology and treatment through the lifetime of the hospital. In addition, the hospital features a 1.5-acre rolling green roof, wireless access throughout the facility, expansive gardens and a large custom chandelier in the main lobby that makes a dramatic first impression for those visiting the hospital.

Project leaders said they were honored to receive the prestigious awards on behalf of all project participants and hailed the many people involved for their outstanding teamwork. The project tallied 4 million work hours, 6,000-plus craftspeople, 2,600 safety audits and more than 40,000 inspections. Twenty-five million pounds of structural steel and 5 million feet of electrical cable were used during construction.

These recognitions are a testament to everyone involved in the creation, planning and design of the new hospital including our Board and staff, said Palomar Health President and CEO Michael H. Covert. It represents a unique achievement and the next stage of development in the building of hospitals and the way we care for individuals in such settings.

DPR Construction Regional Manager Jay Leopold said the only thing that rivals the building and the achievement that were being recognized was the journey.

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Palomar Health's New Palomar Medical Center in San Diego County Receives National and State Design and Construction ...