Marin County Plans Green Hospital for 2020

GREENBRAE, Calif. — Major work is underway for an expansion at Marin General Hospital (MGH) in Greenbrae. The new $394 million hospital will replace MGH with a four-story, 260,000-square-foot hospital building; a five-story, 100,000-square-foot ambulatory services building; and two parking garages. The facility will also strive to achieve LEED Silver or LEED Gold certification upon completion in 2020. Groundbreaking for the new facility is set to take place in January 2016.

One of the many reasons for the expansion was to bring the outdated facility — which is more than 50 years old — up-to-date with seismic requirements, as California is known for earthquake activity.

Another important aspect of the expansion is modern and inviting aesthetics. Arlington, Texas-based LBL Architects is working on the design of the new hospital and has a goal of giving all patient rooms a view of the trees and nature that surround MGH.

The new hospital will be able to provide larger operating rooms and an emergency department with increased diagnostic and treatment capabilities. With the new design, operations will be more efficient, resulting in shorter wait times, according to information from MGH.

The new labor and delivery department will include 12 patient beds. The West Wing will have 60 private rooms — 19 of which could accommodate double beds in an emergency situation.

The design also is guided by green principles. To accomplish LEED certification the facility will incorporate skylights to maximize natural light inside the hospital and visitor-waiting areas will face indoor-outdoor solariums. Marin General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Lee Domanico is paying particular attention to the energy-efficient design of the new facility. “It will be a healthier place for everybody,” he said in a statement.

To review all the green building plans for the hospital, visit the hospital’s construction information page.