The $65 million tenant improvement reconfigures two existing medical office buildings into a unified campus that prioritizes convenience, circulation and operational efficiency. | Photo Credit: Sharp Rees-Stealy Otay Ranch MedicalCenter
By Lindsey Coulter
SAN DIEGO — A major modernization of the Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group campus in San Diego officially opened to patients this month. The project is reshaping how patients access care in one of the city’s busiest medical corridors, bringing nearly 100,000 square feet of clinical services together in a single, highly coordinated environment.
The $65 million tenant improvement reconfigures two existing medical office buildings into a unified campus that prioritizes convenience, circulation and operational efficiency. Services that were once dispersed across multiple locations — including a full-service pharmacy, MRI and CT imaging, and a range of outpatient clinical departments — are now centralized, reducing travel between appointments and streamlining care delivery.
The updated facility, completed by McCarthy Building Companies, opened to patients in early February 2026 and was formally marked this week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The project reflects a broader strategy by Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group to invest in modernized, patient-centered facilities that support integrated care models and respond to growing demand in the region.
Design and construction were carried out on an active healthcare campus, requiring phased work and careful coordination to maintain daily operations. One of the most significant challenges emerged when structural limitations prevented large mechanical systems from being placed on the building roofs. To address the issue, the project team developed an alternative approach, relocating equipment to a newly constructed canopy structure. The solution reduced structural loading, preserved the campus aesthetic and created an elevated outdoor area intended for patient use, turning a technical constraint into a functional amenity.
Beyond interior renovations, the scope included upgrades to a separate parking structure, exterior improvements and new landscape features that improve wayfinding and campus identity. New pedestrian bridges now link the parking structure directly to one of the buildings across four floors, allowing patients to move from parking to care areas without navigating exterior walkways. A connector bridge between the two buildings further improves circulation and supports more efficient clinical operations.
Architectural planning by Cuningham Group Architecture emphasized clarity of movement and ease of access, aligning the physical environment with Sharp Rees-Stealy’s focus on coordinated, whole-person care. The result is a campus designed to reduce friction points—from parking to check-in to diagnostics—while supporting staff workflows behind the scenes.
The Kearny Mesa project also aligns with recent Sharp Rees-Stealy facility transformations across San Diego County, where existing sites have been reimagined to consolidate services, modernize infrastructure and improve the overall patient experience. Together, these investments signal a continued shift toward adaptable medical office environments that can evolve with clinical needs and patient expectations.