CLACKAMAS, Ore. — Kaiser Permanente has launched construction on a major hospital expansion in Oregon, breaking ground on a new seven-story, 615,000-square-foot tower at its Sunnyside Medical Center.
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The project, expected to be completed in 2029, represents a significant investment in both healthcare infrastructure and sustainable building design. Once finished, the facility will operate as a fully electric hospital — a first for the state — and is targeting LEED Gold certification.
The expansion is designed to increase patient capacity and modernize care delivery at the Sunnyside campus, which first opened in 1975 and now employs more than 2,300 clinicians and staff.
The new hospital tower will introduce a range of upgraded healthcare features, including private patient rooms, expanded emergency department capacity, and advanced surgical and imaging capabilities.
Plans also include integrated telemedicine systems and redesigned clinical spaces intended to support collaborative, team-based care models — a growing trend in modern healthcare delivery.
“This new hospital tower is a direct investment in their ability to continue that work,” said Leong Koh, M.D., executive medical director of Northwest Permanente. “Designed for team-based care, advanced technology, and a healing environment, it will give our patients the privacy, safety, and comfort they deserve while supporting our clinicians in delivering the best possible outcomes.”
The Sunnyside campus currently provides specialized services such as neurosurgery, cancer care, cardiovascular treatment and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, all of which are expected to benefit from the expanded infrastructure.
A key component of the project is its focus on sustainability. Kaiser Permanente said the facility’s fully electric infrastructure will significantly reduce its carbon footprint, aligning with broader industry efforts to lower emissions and improve energy efficiency in healthcare buildings.
The project is also expected to deliver economic benefits to the region. Construction activity is projected to support more than 600 jobs at peak, contributing to local workforce demand over the multi-year build.
Once the new tower is operational, plans call for the existing hospital structure to be replaced with parking and outdoor spaces, further enhancing the campus layout and accessibility.
The Sunnyside Medical Center is one of two Kaiser Permanente hospitals serving Oregon and southwest Washington, alongside its Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro. The expansion underscores the organization’s ongoing commitment to upgrading facilities and meeting growing regional healthcare needs.
As healthcare systems nationwide invest in modern infrastructure, the Sunnyside project reflects a broader shift toward sustainable, technology-enabled facilities designed to improve both patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
Originally reported by Gus Iversen, Editor in Chief in Dot Med.
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