McCarthy Completes State-of-the-Art Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Tower II

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy), one of the largest and most diversified commercial construction companies in the U.S., in partnership with Scripps Health and HGA Architects, recently completed construction of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Tower II — a state-of-the-art, 418,500-square-foot, 10-story acute care tower designed to meet the region’s growing demand for healthcare. 

Located at 9888 Genesee Avenue, the new tower is directly connected to the original Tower I, completed by McCarthy in 2014, and reflects more than a decade of trusted partnership between Scripps Health and the construction team. The new facility includes 170 licensed inpatient beds, a rooftop helistop, nine operating rooms, three interventional radiology suites, and expanded imaging, emergency department (ED) and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) services. In early June, labor and delivery, postpartum, and NICU units transitioned staff to the new facility, establishing Tower II as a premier destination for women’s and infant care in the region.

McCarthy provided general contracting services for Tower II throughout the 52-month project duration. A key factor in their ability to meet the aggressive timeline included their self-perform contributions for the concrete, underground utility work, and mapping scopes of work. The company also oversaw upgrades to the existing Central Energy Plant — installing two new generators, three chillers, additional cooling towers, and other essential systems to support the expanded hospital capacity.

“This project represents the culmination of more than 15 years of collaborative work on this campus,” said Chris Delgado, Project Director at McCarthy. “We’re incredibly proud to have helped deliver a facility of this caliber — one that not only enhances patient care but also reflects the strength of the relationship we’ve built with Scripps over the years.”

Tower II was constructed using a bolted side plate structural steel system — a unique approach that significantly reduced welding time and labor demands, the first of its kind to be active in construction for the California Department of Health Care Access and Information. Its exterior features precast paneling, improving efficiency and reducing the building enclosure timeline. The facility also incorporates operational improvements for streamlined patient and staff movement.

Despite being built during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, McCarthy and its partners remained committed to safety, cost efficiency, and seamless collaboration. This included advanced planning to mitigate procurement delays and real-time coordination with hospital staff to accommodate ongoing patient care, while more than 100 McCarthy employees and 500 trade partners contributed to the success of the project.

The completion of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Tower II represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare for the San Diego region. With a total construction cost of $664 million, the new tower underscores Scripps Health’s continued commitment to delivering world-class, patient-centered care through thoughtful, long-term infrastructure planning. To mark the occasion, project partners recently gathered on campus for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating this major milestone.

About McCarthy Building Companies

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc (McCarthy) is the oldest privately held national construction company in America. With more than 160 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients, McCarthy is committed to delivering superior results and creating great experiences for everyone. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program in all phases of the project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 17th largest domestic builder (Engineering News- Record, May 2024). With over 8,000 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis; Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Austin, Channelview, Dallas, and Houston, Texas; and San Diego, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.