SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Kaiser Permanente, a leading national healthcare provider, has officially broken ground on a major new specialty care facility in downtown Sacramento. The ambitious project, known as the Kaiser Permanente Railyards Campus, is set to become California’s third all-electric hospital and a cornerstone of modern healthcare for the region.

Situated on an 18-acre site, the sprawling 1.2 million-square-foot campus will house a comprehensive range of medical services, including a full-service hospital, outpatient offices, maternity care, and more. Designed with sustainability at its core, the facility will harness solar power, feature electric vehicle charging stations, utilize drought-resistant landscaping, and incorporate low-emission building materials to minimize its environmental impact.

“This new facility will bring essential medical services to the city’s core for the first time,” said Jay Robinson, senior vice president and area manager of Kaiser Permanente Sacramento. “Breaking ground on our future medical center today will have a transformative effect on downtown Sacramento’s economic vitality and provide our members and patients greater access to high-quality care and service for generations to come.”

At the heart of the campus is an eight-story hospital building covering 662,050 square feet. This centerpiece will offer 310 private patient rooms, a 70-treatment-bay emergency department, and 14 operating rooms. It will also include specialized units such as an intensive care unit (ICU), a neonatal ICU, and a labor and delivery postpartum care area. The architectural design by SmithGroup of San Francisco focuses on creating a healing environment combined with state-of-the-art technology. Hensel Phelps, a national construction firm, will oversee the building process.

Adjacent to the hospital, a five-story medical office building spanning 173,000 square feet will provide 66 exam rooms, a pharmacy, laboratory, and diagnostic imaging center. Additionally, the campus will host Kaiser Permanente’s Advanced Neuroscience Center, offering care for patients with complex neurological disorders involving the brain, spine, and peripheral nervous system. Supporting infrastructure includes a seven-story parking garage with 1,500 spaces to accommodate patients, visitors, and staff.

Rick Vitangco, physician in chief of Kaiser Permanente Sacramento, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the facility. “This facility will provide our patients and members with more services under one roof, supported by a modern facility with enhanced amenities, and the latest technology to help us deliver world-class care,” he said.

The Railyards Campus, slated for completion in 2027, represents a significant expansion of Kaiser Permanente’s footprint in the Greater Sacramento area, where nearly one million residents currently receive care through the company’s network. Existing facilities include the South Sacramento Medical Center Level II trauma center, the nationally accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center, the Roseville Women and Children’s Center, and on-site cancer care centers.

Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty highlighted the hospital’s broader community impact. “Kaiser Permanente has been a vital contributor to our city’s well-being and economic health for six decades,” he said. “The new Railyards Medical Center will continue that tradition by expanding essential health care services and supporting the revitalization of downtown.”

Beyond healthcare, the project is expected to generate hundreds of construction jobs over its multi-year timeline, as well as long-term employment opportunities in medical, administrative, and support roles. Community engagement efforts are underway to ensure local stakeholders have a voice in the development.

As healthcare demands evolve, the all-electric Railyards Campus is positioned to be a model of sustainability and innovation, reflecting Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to both environmental stewardship and delivering top-tier patient care.

Originally reported by HCO News.