The 300 acres of San Joaquin marshlands, just off the UC Irvine campus, have long been a sanctuary for migratory birds and other wildlife, and a haven for hikers with its 10 miles of natural trails. But now comes a new purpose: an important backdrop to a $1.3 billion sparkling medical complex at its border whose crowning jewel—a seven-story, 144-bed acute care hospital—opens Dec. 10.
It’s the final step of UCI Health’s ambitious $1.3 billion multifacility project along Jamboree Road at Birch Street—which will include the first all-electric acute care hospital in the nation.
“When the Irvine founders created the campus in the 1960s, they envisioned it would include a leading hospital,” says planning director Jess Langerud. “That didn’t work out until now. Now this new complex will be the envy of medicine everywhere.”
That complex includes the already operating Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care building. The medical campus’ million-plus square feet will also include landscaped open spaces between the buildings for patient and caregiver relaxation, and views of the marshlands and the adjacent UC Irvine campus land.
Much of that vision is because of UCI Health President and CEO Chad T. Lefteris. He demanded not just top medical care, but an environment where patient comfort was emphasized. That includes the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary as its backdrop.
“Many of our patients have serious medical issues,” says Ellen Khoudari, senior project manager for design. “We want them to not just have the best care, but provide for them a space that will help keep them calm and provide them with comfort. And what a great bonus that we have the marsh to help us do all that.”
All of this developed in just the past five years. With South Orange County growing and bed space an issue, Lefteris and his planners came up with an ambitious proposal for a new Irvine complex. Its Board of Regents jumped in with enthusiasm. With bond help and funding from the university reserves, Lefteris set a goal of an additional $100 million in donations. His team surpassed that by far. The Wen and Chao families more than met that goal by themselves.
“From the original drawings to the architectural designs, the whole planning process, this has exceeded our expectations,” Lefteris says.
The gleaming new facilities offer much-needed additional bed space and outpatient care for UCI Medical Center’s flagship hospital in Orange. “We knew that even prior to Covid, we were virtually full every day,” Lefteris says. “We also know that if we are not there to meet those demands, patrons will be traveling outside our service area, even outside the county.”
With an Orange County population of more than 3 million, the Irvine name stands alone. A century and a half ago, Scottish immigrant James Irvine started a land grant cattle ranch in dusty fields midway between the Pacific beaches and the San Joaquin Hills. Generations of Irvines since then have transformed its agricultural lands to vast urban growth—a planned city, a major university, and massive corporate centers. The Irvine brand reaches every city and community in Orange County.
One of its leading lights: UCI Health, which reflects the growth that began with UCI Medical Center. The new Irvine medical complex remains loyal to its mission: discover, teach, and heal.
Here’s a look at this growth over the last five years.
The New Hospital
All-electric means carbon fuels aren’t used for anything. That’s zero carbon emissions into the environment. No more natural gas for a vast network of heating and cooling building needs. The hospital’s electric supply is either generated on-site or comes from sustainable sources. It also includes solar power and recycled water. “The highest level of health care with minimal impact to the places around us,” says Dr. Ryan Gibney, medical director of the new hospital’s emergency services.
Highest level means the latest in medical technology. Planning Director Langerud points out that there are more miles of cables and digital support than there is steel in the buildings.
“As much as people see, what is just as amazing is all of the thought and planning that went into the things you can’t see,” he adds.
It’s also designed so that each patient room can become its own intensive care facility, if needed. Lefteris notes the intention is to stay ahead of modern technology that will be standard in the future.
Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care
At 168,000 square feet, this outpatient facility includes 120 examining rooms for nearly two dozen specialties. It’s highly noted for autism and cardiology care. But it’s also known for sports medicine and spine care.
Wen, who owns a wide range of entrepreneurial endeavors, came to America from Taiwan as a teenager from a poor family. He had to work long hours just to get through college.
“Our family’s commitment to advancing health care and education has always been a core value,” he says. “We are honored to support UC Irvine and help continue a legacy, and care and compassion for future generations.”
UCI Health Rehabilitation Hospital
This 52-bed facility will open a few blocks away in 2026. It will specialize in care for those with disabling injuries, similar illnesses, and those who need specialized long-term care.
It will include an occupational therapy gymnasium, speech therapy rooms, and dialysis beds, plus a negative air pressure room—that’s where the air pressure in the room is less than the air pressure outside the room, to help control infection dangers, especially in the Covid-19 era.
Patients at this center might suffer from a brain injury in a car crash, or an on-the-field sports injury. But it’s also for those suffering from burns, Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS), or even a stroke.
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center and Ambulatory Care Building
The Chao family came to California from Taiwan in the 1980s and became a success in pharmaceuticals. They have been long-standing donors to UC Irvine for decades.
The new five-story, 225,000-square-foot center with ambulatory care includes advanced cancer screening, diagnostics, and treatment.
In addition, it provides a women’s health center, plus an infusion center with 26 rooms and advanced surgical techniques in prostate cancer surgery, which allows many patients to go home the same day. It also includes the latest in radiation technology.
Its leaders make a special point to note that its patients get “a breathtaking view of the wetlands.”
The Aesthetics
The wetlands play a role far beyond those views. Themes throughout the new complex are based on animals and birds from the wetlands. In fact, Orange County nature plays a major role in the hundreds of paintings and other art throughout the new complex.
Khoudari points out that UCI Health owes much thanks to James Irvine Swinden for his advisory role in the selection of art for the new health center. He’s the eldest son of the longtime matriarch of the Irvine family, Joan Irvine Smith, who invested millions in California impressionistic art for her museum prior to her death six years ago.
“He really helped us up our game to provide the highest quality of art, from hallways and lobbies to patient rooms,” Khoudari says.
She laughs while recalling one of their sessions for deciding on art pieces, making sure the medical complex had the highest quality of California art: “He’d reject a piece and say, ‘hotel art.’”
The purpose behind the selection of art, notes Khoudari, is to make patients and their caregivers feel welcome—“as we would welcome friends to our homes.”
The whole thing has the nation’s attention. The new hospital was recently featured on CBS News. And UCI Health leaders say they’re aware of other hospitals, including international ones, that plan to go all-electric.
Lefteris notes that this years-long expansion “brings us full circle to what the founders of the university wanted. Also, it now becomes a gateway as a new entrance to the main campus.”
And what does he think of it all, as he walks between the buildings and along that San Joaquin marsh? “I think of our patients,” he says. “I think of how all this helps us provide better care to our patients.”
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