The Hillcrest Parking structure and adjacent McGrath Outpatient Pavillion marks the first step of a 15-year, $2.5 billion redevelopment plan for the Hillcrest Medical Center in San Diego. The 1,850-stall structure, which serves both staff and patients, was designed to prioritize accessibility, convenience, micromobility, technology, safety, and sustainability.
Creating ease of access and reducing patient stress was critical to the project. To achieve this, the parking structure includes an underground parking ‘spine’ that provides safe passage under a busy street and directly connects the parking structure to the outpatient facility. The spine includes an ADA-compliant patient pick-up and drop-off area with higher floor-to-floor heights to accommodate medical transport vans. Directing these vans into the spine reduces traffic at the pick-up and drop-off areas and in front of the outpatient building, and parking stalls are provided so they can park and wait for their next patient without creating congestion.
Patients facing mobility challenges have escalator access to the underground lobby that connects directly with the new outpatient center, where valet parking is available. The spine lobby includes landscaped planters, bench seating, a faux skylight ceiling and higher quality lighting finishes along with high ceilings to create a more open, welcoming feeling.
The 9-level structure utilizes a parking guidance system with signage about parking availability at vehicle entry, at the drive aisles, and space-by-space to ensure both staff and patients can find a space quickly and efficiently. Patients can pay for parking by phone, while LPR controls staff access. As shift changes can create choke points, the facility is gateless to improve throughput and prevent bottlenecks.
The 9-level structure features the tallest modular elevator in the US and takes advantage of sloping terrain to incorporate entrances and exits on multiple levels. Two scissor park-on ramps allow cars travel up or down two levels in a full 360 degree rotation, which doubles the speed they can flow through the 10-level story while also eliminating dead ends, increasing efficiency and circulation.
As half of the structure serves patients, 90 parking stalls are ADA, with 19 located in the spine, and include EV ADA parking. The parking layout was designed with the flexibility to add additional ADA stalls without needing to adjust the topping slab.
Staff who bike to work can follow a bike path protected by bollards into a separate, dedicated bicycle entry to safely separate riders from drivers. Secured bicycle parking is located within the structure, and restrooms are accessible in the spine lobby of the adjacent pavilion.
The parking structure façade was designed to complement that of the adjacent McGrath Outpatient Pavillion, and features both vertical and horizontal fins with perforated metal screens. The parking structure has four elevators and a main stair along First Street, taking patients to the spine level where they can access the pavilion without crossing First Street. Both the stair and elevator cores are clad in porcelain panels.
Inside the structure, type 1L cement was used to create a brighter, more welcoming concrete finish. The elevator lobbies feature woodgrain metal wall panels and edge-lit backpainted glass with concrete tiles that match the lighter cement.
Sustainable features include EV charging stations for 10% of the structure’s parking stalls and two DC fast chargers, as well as charging infrastructure for an additional 20% of stalls in the future. The parking structure was also designed to support future PV and is pursing Parksmart Silver.
Project Details
- Owner: UC San Diego Medical Center
- Master Planner: SmithGroup
- Design Architect: Arcadis
- Contractor: DPR
- Project Status: Completed 2025
- Parking Stalls: 1,791 parking stalls, 60 stall parking "spine"
- Levels: 9
- Total Sq Ft: 634,657
- Sq Ft per Stall: 343
- Total Project Cost: $60,982,396
- Per Stall Cost: $34,068
