C.W. Driver Finishes New ‘Gateway’ to UCSD East Medical Campus

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A new medical office building designed as a gateway building to the University of California, San Diego’s Health Sciences and Medical Center has opened its doors to doctors and staff.

Built by C.W. Driver, which led the design-build team that included Gensler as the architect and Miyamoto International as the structural engineer, the building provides office space in a convenient location adjacent to medical facilities such as the Thornton Hospital and Sulpizio Family Cardiovascular Center.

Supporting UCSD’s vision of requiring all campus projects to achieve LEED Silver, the east campus office building was completed on time and on budget through a strategic project delivery that allowed the campus to remain open throughout the construction period.

Tucked behind UCSD’s Thornton Hospital, the $25-million, 75,000-square-foot building features office and meeting spaces on all three levels, while the main floor includes exam rooms and a café. The new medical office space will hold a first floor Clinical and Translational Research Institute consisting of exam rooms, pharmacy, treatment rooms, blood draw rooms and related support areas including waiting rooms, restrooms and a reception area.

The new facility will improve efficiency and enhance collaboration by consolidating related research and associated staff that were previously scattered among several on- and off-campus locations, in one building.

Through the creative use of various materials utilized during the construction process, such as form liners, numerous sandblast textures and changes in plane wall panels, a very classic and timeless look was achieved. This is consistent with the high architectural standard established on the campus and without paying a premium for more expensive materials.