Closing in on the Finish Line: New Stanford Hospital Receives Temporary Certificate of Occupancy

STANFORD, CALIF. (July 9, 2019) – After more than a decade of planning, design and construction, the new 824,000-square-foot Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto reached a major milestone on Friday, receiving a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. This milestone marks the final leg of construction on the new Stanford Hospital before it opens for patient care this fall.

“Our new hospital will be a place for firsts. New discoveries will be made here. New procedures will be performed. And through this remarkable state-of-the-art facility, we will be able to revolutionize the way that patient care is delivered at Stanford,” said Stanford Health Care President and CEO David Entwistle. “It’s wonderful to see our vision for the future of patient care coming to life, and I am grateful to our exceptional team who helped us reach this point.”

Once completed, the new facility will accommodate the latest advances in medical technology, increase capacity, revolutionize the treatment of rare, complex diseases, meet new seismic safety requirements and transform the way patient care is delivered in the community.

“More than 5.5 million construction work hours have been completed on the hospital from 135 trades and specialties to date,” said Bert Hurlbut, vice president of construction for the new Stanford Hospital. “This milestone triggers many transitions, the most noticeable being that hard hats and safety gear will no longer be needed in most areas of the building.”

While minor finishing work continues, Stanford Health Care will now begin the extensive operational training and preparation necessary to license a brand-new hospital facility where Stanford Medicine’s life-saving treatment and care will occur.

“It’s quite an extraordinary process to bring a new hospital like this online,” said Helen Wilmot, vice president of facilities services & planning. “More than 4,000 physicians, nurses, staff and volunteers will undergo rigorous training this summer to familiarize themselves with the new hospital before it opens to patient care this fall.”

Designed by the internationally recognized firm Rafael Viñoly Architects, the new Stanford Hospital sets a global standard for patient care. The new hospital blends a human-centered approach to care with a razor-sharp focus on integrating technological advancements into every aspect of medical care delivery. Four acres of gardens, original art and sweeping views share the spotlight with state-of-the-art interventional operating and imaging suites, digitally driven patient rooms and access to a premier team of specialists from across Stanford Medicine.

“Through the new Stanford Hospital, we are taking an important step forward in realizing our vision of Precision Health: to predict, prevent, and cure disease—precisely,” said Lloyd Minor, M.D., dean, Stanford University School of Medicine. “In every aspect of its design, our new facility enables us to provide high-tech, high-touch care to our patients and bring the latest biomedical advances to the bedside.”

The new hospital is scheduled to open this fall. The community will be invited to tour the building as part of its Community Open House on September 14 and 15. For more information about the opening events, visit www.stanfordhealthcares.com.