NYA performed the structural evaluation of the UC San Diego Medical Center Hillcrest in San Diego for compliance with California’s seismic safety legislation, California Senate Bill 1953. Completed in 2000, the evaluation identified the need for seismic upgrades to extend the service life of the facility, which consists of several hospital buildings constructed during different periods.

Using advanced analysis techniques and innovative strengthening strategies, NYA developed a retrofit approach that minimized disruption to hospital operations. Carbon fiber reinforcement was applied to key column members, allowing the patient tower to be upgraded from an SPC-1/SPC-2 classification to an SPC-2 rating with minimal structural intervention. The retrofit was completed while the hospital remained fully operational, with construction lasting approximately two months and costing less than one-tenth of the original shear wall strengthening schemes that had been considered. As a result, the building’s operational life was extended through 2030.

Following the initial seismic evaluation and retrofit work, NYA continued to support improvements across the campus. Additional projects included an NPC-3 upgrade of the main hospital tower and an SPC-5 upgrade of the existing central plant enclosure in 2010, as well as renovations to several critical care areas including the Angiography Suite (2008), Inpatient MRI (2009), and Labor, Delivery, and Recovery unit (2009). Throughout these upgrades, the medical center maintained continuous daily operations, requiring careful coordination to ensure patient care was not disrupted.

Structural Engineering Services: Seismic evaluation, hospital seismic retrofit design, SB 1953 compliance analysis, carbon fiber column strengthening, hospital structural upgrades, healthcare facility structural engineering.

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