Construction Progresses on UCLA Health Neuropsychiatric Hospital
By Fay Harvey
LOS ANGELES — UCLA Health’s $400-million project to relocate and expand the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital into a world-class facility has achieved a significant construction milestone with the installation of prefabricated panels, signaling the upcoming transition to interior work. Once completed, the hospital will offer comprehensive healthcare services for patients of all ages and will include a dedicated area for crisis stabilization services, a service not currently available in the area.
“This building is starting to look like the hospital we envisioned,” said Erick Cheung, chief medical officer of the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, in a statement. “It’s a tangible reminder of the incredible progress we’ve made and the outstanding care this facility will provide.”
Construction on the 175,000-square-foot hospital, which began in March 2023, is being led by design-build team comprised of global design firm HOK and St. Louis.-headquartered McCarthy Building Companies. Installation of the exterior panels began on Dec. 4, 2024, and will ensure the structure is weather-tight before interior construction can begin.
The prefabricated panels arrived fully assembled, featuring fiber cement finishes, framing, insulation and waterproofing. Manufacturing of the panels included using high-performing, energy efficient materials to support the hospital’s pursuit of achieving LEED Gold certification. Installation required precise placement for each individual panel, and a crane was used to ensure the order of panels remained succinct. According to Suzanne Kiely, project manager with UCLA Health planning, design, and construction, this method reduces waste and enhances both quality control and efficiency.
“These panels are a game changer,” Kiely said in a UCLA statement “Building the panels in a controlled factory environment eliminates risks of delay due to weather. Plus, we shorten the overall schedule because panels are made off-site while the base structure is prepared at the site. Work happens concurrently rather than consecutively.”
After panel installation, the construction team tackled joint sealing and window installation. Sealing is the essential step to commencing interior work, as the exterior shell will allow mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems and drywall installation to progress without disruption from outside elements.
The new five-story facility will include 119 total beds — a substantial upgrade from the existing 74-bed UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital — with a specific aim of catering to patients facing mental and behavioral health issues. Inside, patients can also find imaging services, pharmacies, labs, administrative spaces and food offerings with therapy spaces on each floor that were designed according to trauma-informed practices. A rooftop terrace and ground-level gardens are included in the plans for both staff and patients. Construction is slated to be complete in 2026.
“Creating a healing and recovery environment was one of the main stated goals of this project,” said Erik Chessmore, McCarthy’s vice president of operations in L.A., in an HOK statement “The atmosphere will be inviting, and patients, family members and caregivers will have ample daylight and amenities to make for a healthful recovery. We are so grateful for this opportunity to team with HOK and UCLA Health to build this new hospital, setting a new standard for a modern-day neuropsychiatric hospital.”