SAN DIEGO, Calif — Sharp HealthCare, working alongside McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy), has completed a newly constructed Central Energy Plant (CEP) at the Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus, marking a major step forward in strengthening hospital infrastructure and supporting long-term redevelopment plans across the site.
The state-of-the-art energy facility is part of a broader modernization initiative designed to support Sharp’s mission of delivering reliable, high-performing healthcare services while also improving campus efficiency and resilience for the future.
Central Energy Plant relocation supports long-term campus transformation
As part of the project plan, the new CEP was strategically relocated from the existing plant’s central campus location. This shift is considered a critical early milestone in Sharp Metropolitan Medical Campus’ larger four-phase master plan, helping unlock future construction activity, including new buildings and a medical tower planned near the core of the campus.
.jpg)
The new facility helps streamline the campus footprint by moving key utility systems into a modernized, dedicated hub—creating space and flexibility for future redevelopment.
“The new Central Energy Plant has positioned Sharp’s central San Diego campus to support future campus growth and strengthened our commitment to being responsible stewards of financial and environmental resources. McCarthy delivered a solution that allows us to focus on what matters most — providing exceptional care for our patients,” said Hollis Gentry, Vice President, Facilities Management and Development, Sharp HealthCare.
New CEP boosts efficiency, redundancy, and decades of capacity
The new Central Energy Plant totals 25,464 square feet and includes a 1,408-square-foot mezzanine, providing campus-wide utility support for Sharp Metro’s operations.
Designed for continuity and future readiness, the new CEP fully replaces the previous central plant and delivers the capacity required to support hospital operations well into the coming decades. Updated equipment and improved system design are expected to strengthen utility performance while helping control long-term operational costs—especially as demand grows with future campus expansion.
The CEP also supports critical hospital systems, including life-saving medical equipment, while improving reliability through redundancy and self-reliance.
Key systems and capability upgrades
The CEP includes several major utility and emergency-power improvements aimed at strengthening reliability and resilience across the Sharp Metro campus:
- 5 chillers with 1,200 tons of capacity, doubling existing capacity
- Full boiler room with 74,260 MBH output
- Four 2.5MW emergency generators with total 10MW output
- Two 50k gallon diesel fuel tanks for extended emergency backup power
- Normal & emergency substations sized to support the full campus at completion
- Clean steam generation for temperature control, sterilization, and other uses
- Coordination and integration with the City, OSHPD, and California’s HCAi jurisdictions
These upgrades strengthen the campus’ ability to maintain safe, stable operations under both routine and high-demand conditions.
Carefully phased construction on an active medical campus
%20(1).jpg)
Because Sharp Metro remained fully operational during construction, the work required extensive planning to reduce disruption and maintain the safety and comfort of patients, staff, and visitors.
Construction crews completed the work over 150,000 work hours, using phased approaches to critical tie-ins and cutovers—including chilled water transitions, electrical cutovers, and selective demolition—sequenced to protect essential hospital functions.
Beyond replacing aging utilities, the project establishes a scalable, future-proof foundation for the campus, including seismic upgrades that support continuity during emergency scenarios such as earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Design-build collaboration supports master plan execution
McCarthy served as the design-builder and was engaged early to support planning, sequencing, and coordination across a wide group of project stakeholders.
The company collaborated with 13 design firms, including architect HDR, structural engineer KPFF, and MEP engineer WSP, along with key trade partners such as Dynalectric and University Mechanical. This early-stage collaboration helped support detailed preplanning and ensured construction could be executed without disrupting medical operations.
“We’re incredibly proud of the collaboration and hard work from the entire team throughout this critical phase of the master plan,” said Bob Betz, Executive Vice President for McCarthy. “As we continue building at the Metro Campus in the months ahead, we look forward to continued partnership with our design team, trade partners, and the staff at Sharp HealthCare.”
With the completion of the CEP, Sharp HealthCare is now positioned to advance future campus projects as part of its larger redevelopment program—reinforcing long-term operational resilience and strengthening healthcare infrastructure for the San Diego community.
Originally reported by McCarthy Building Companies.
.png)
