UltraSystems Supports Medical Center Expansion Projects
Healthcare facilities are an essential part of growing communities, but developing and expanding medical facilities can involve a wide range of environmental considerations. From a major medical center expansion requiring an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to a medical office project qualifying for streamlined environmental documentation, UltraSystems helps public agencies and project teams navigate environmental requirements and move projects forward.
Planning for a Major Medical Center Expansion in Redlands
Photo: Kaiser Permanente Redlands Medical Offices in Redlands, California.
UltraSystems prepared an Environmental Impact Report for the City of Redlands for the proposed expansion of the existing Kaiser Permanente Redlands Medical Offices site.
Planned Development No. 6 proposed a phased expansion of the existing medical campus. The long-term plan would transform the site into a regional medical center, allowing healthcare facilities and services to expand over time. Plans included a new Medical Office Building/Ambulatory Services Center, a future 213-bed acute care hospital, a Central Utility Plant, additional medical office space and parking facilities, and the potential for a future hospital expansion adding 108 beds.
The first new outpatient facility is planned to bring together urgent care, outpatient surgery, chemotherapy infusion services, imaging, laboratory services, clinical specialties, and medical offices. Together, these additions provide a framework for the Redlands medical campus to grow over time while continuing to serve the surrounding community.
Photo: UltraSystems GIS showing major site additions in future phases.
As part of the environmental planning process, UltraSystems prepared technical studies addressing cultural resources, paleontological resources, noise, and biological resources. The team also conducted a CEQA adequacy review of technical studies prepared for the project.
This multidisciplinary approach brought together environmental planning and technical expertise to address the range of environmental considerations associated with a large, phased healthcare development.
A Different Approach for Medical Offices in Rancho Cucamonga
In Rancho Cucamonga, UltraSystems provided environmental services for the Maple Place Medical Offices Project, a proposed two-story medical office building containing 16 offices, with eight offices on each floor. The project would develop a currently vacant site with new space designed specifically for medical office uses.
Photo: Maple Place Medical Offices project in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
The project adds to the healthcare and professional services already present in the surrounding Maple Place area, creating additional space where medical providers can operate and serve the Rancho Cucamonga community.
Developing the vacant property also puts an existing infill site to new use within an established office and business area.
The project was planned for construction in a single phase. Grading was designed to balance the site using existing soil, eliminating the need to import or export soil during construction. These project and site characteristics helped inform the environmental documentation prepared for the development
UltraSystems documented the project’s qualification for a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and completed a categorical exclusion checklist under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
This project provides a useful contrast to the larger Redlands medical center expansion, demonstrating how environmental documentation can be tailored to the scale and characteristics of individual healthcare development.
Photo: UltraSystems GIS map with small site footprint.
Environmental Planning for Different Project Needs
Together, these projects show how healthcare development can take many forms, from a new medical office building to the long-term expansion of a major medical center. While both serve the healthcare sector, each project brings its own environmental considerations.
Factors such as size, location, site conditions, proposed uses, construction activities, and potential environmental effects can all influence the type and level of environmental analysis required. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to environmental planning. By understanding the unique needs of each project, UltraSystems helps healthcare developments move forward while supporting facilities that serve communities across Southern California.
For a closer look at the first phase of the Kaiser Permanente Redlands medical campus, including planned services and project details, read more from Community Forward Redlands.
About UltraSystems, founded in 1994, is a multi-disciplinary, full service environmental consulting and planning firm serving both the public and private sectors. The 30-year-old firm provides expertise in development planning; site selection and analysis; CEQA and NEPA compliance; technical studies, and environmental compliance during construction. UltraSystems Environmental is a certified DBE, SBE, and WBE company that is headquartered in Irvine, California.
Gabriela Cabrera BA, PGD is the Administrative Executive & Marketing Assistant at UltraSystems working on social media, newsletters, and proposals at the Irvine Headquarter office.