
The new Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, is a cutting-edge healthcare facility that promotes patient and staff wellness and showcases resilient architecture. The $2 billion project, led by Rafael Viñoly Architects, is the result of more than a decade of work, including six years of construction. The hospital is designed to accommodate medical technology advancements, increase capacity, and meet new seismic safety standards in California. The building features a unique structural foundation with base isolators that enable the structure to remain functional after a powerful earthquake. The hospital's design emphasizes natural light, large windows, and tranquil views, promoting healing and a positive patient experience.
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What You'll Learn

Design and construction
The new Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, is a cutting-edge healthcare facility that promotes patient and staff wellness and showcases resilient architecture. The $2 billion project is the result of over a decade of work, including six years of construction. The hospital is designed to serve the community 100 years into the future, accommodating advancements in medical technology, increasing capacity, and meeting new seismic safety standards in California.
The seven-story, 812,000-square-foot hospital blends humanity with technology to revolutionize the patient experience. The building has an expansive lobby atrium with a 65-foot-high, glass-enclosed entry dome and is filled with natural light and large windows offering tranquil views. Each of the 368 individual patient rooms features a 14-foot-wide window, allowing patients to gaze out onto the Stanford campus and the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains. The hospital also includes 17 operating rooms, 11 interventional radiology/image-guided rooms, five MRI suites, state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment rooms, an expanded Emergency Department, five gardens, walking trails, and a meditation room.
The hospital's design is centred around the themes of "connect, treat, heal, and care", with four levels stacking vertically to emphasise overall wellness. An inviting sunlit atrium welcomes patients and caregivers, seamlessly connecting them to advanced treatment areas on the second floor. The third floor features a 40,000-square-foot garden designed with drought-resistant plants and sustainable systems. The building is constructed on base isolators, a structural foundation decoupled from the structure it supports, allowing it to remain steadier during an earthquake. The hospital can withstand an 8.0-magnitude earthquake and can double or even triple its patient capacity in an emergency.
The hospital's design also incorporates advanced technology to support healthcare innovation. Large television screens in patient rooms provide access to health records, service requests, and entertainment options. The 900-vehicle garage can quickly convert into a triage centre during emergencies, and the building has its own sewer tank, water tank, and generators capable of producing 2.5 megawatts of power.
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Leadership and management
Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, is a cutting-edge healthcare facility that promotes patient and staff wellness and showcases resilient architecture. The $2 billion project is the result of over a decade of work, including six years of construction. The hospital is designed to serve the community for the next 100 years, incorporating advanced technology and a design that prioritises healing and well-being.
The Stanford Hospital project is led by a team of executives who bring extensive experience and expertise to the endeavour. At the helm is David Entwistle, who serves as the President and CEO of Stanford Health Care. Entwistle joined Stanford Health Care in July 2016, bringing with him a wealth of executive experience from leading academic medical centres. He is a recognised healthcare thought leader and serves on various boards, including the American Hospital Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges Council of Teaching Hospitals. Entwistle is passionate about precision health and empowering patients to take charge of their health.
Another key leader in the Stanford Hospital project is Jennie Crews, MD President & CEO of Stanford Medicine Partners and Chief Medical Officer of Ambulatory Care–Stanford Medicine Partners. Crews plays a crucial role in the medical aspect of the project, ensuring the highest levels of care and compassion.
The project also benefits from the expertise of other senior executives, including Rachel De Guzman, Senior Vice President of Planning, Design & Construction; Alison Kerr, Senior Vice President of Destination Service Lines and Chief Clinical Operations Officer; Paul Maggio, MD Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer; James Martin, Jr., Senior Vice President and Controller; and Michael Pfeffer, MD Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Each of these individuals brings a unique set of skills and experiences that contribute to the successful management and operation of the hospital.
The design of the hospital is a collaborative effort between Stanford Health Care and the design team, with input from hundreds of clinicians, staff, and community members. The architectural firm Rafael Viñoly Architects led the design process, creating a structure that blends humanity and technology to revolutionise the patient experience. The hospital's innovative plan is centred around four themes: connect, treat, heal, and care, which are reflected in the vertical stacking of the four levels.
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Patient experience
The new Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, is a cutting-edge healthcare facility that promotes patient and staff wellness and showcases resilient architecture. The hospital is designed to serve the community for the next 100 years, incorporating advanced technology and a design that prioritises healing and well-being.
The hospital's patient experience is centred around four levels with the themes of "connect, treat, heal, and care". The design mimics a patient's journey and seamlessly connects them to advanced treatment areas. The second floor features an inviting sunlit atrium that welcomes patients and caregivers, while the third floor boasts a 40,000-square-foot garden with drought-resistant plants and sustainable systems, providing a tranquil space for patients and staff alike.
Each private patient room has a 14-foot-wide window offering tranquil views of the Stanford campus and the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Patients can relax in beds positioned away from the busy hallways and connect with their family members through large television screens that provide access to health records, service requests, and entertainment options. The rooms also include flexible sleeper sofas and storage space, encouraging loved ones to spend time with patients during their recovery.
The hospital's design emphasises natural light and views, with a glass-enclosed entry dome and windows at the end of every corridor, providing daylight and a connection to nature within 50 feet of any point in the building. This attention to design and natural elements promotes healing and tranquility, creating a soothing environment for patients.
The hospital is also equipped with advanced medical technology, such as precision therapies and imaging, to provide the highest levels of care in treating various conditions, including cancer, heart disease, and brain disorders. Stanford Health Care is committed to delivering compassionate and tailored treatment options, empowering patients to take charge of their health and well-being.
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Advanced technology
The new Stanford Hospital is a cutting-edge healthcare facility that integrates advanced technology with innovative design to revolutionise the patient experience and promote wellness for both patients and staff.
The hospital is designed to accommodate advancements in healthcare technology and medical science, leveraging the resources available in Silicon Valley. The building is equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment rooms, 11 interventional radiology/image-guided rooms, and five MRI suites. The patient rooms feature large television screens that provide access to health records, service requests, and entertainment options. This technology enhances patient comfort and convenience, allowing them to manage their care more effectively.
Stanford Hospital also prioritises the well-being of its patients by incorporating natural light and tranquil views into the design. Each private room features a 14-foot-wide window overlooking the Stanford campus and the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, providing a calming and healing environment. The hospital's expansive lobby features a soaring glass-enclosed entry dome, filling the space with natural light and creating a welcoming atmosphere.
Additionally, the hospital is designed with resiliency and flexibility in mind. It is built on base isolators, a structural foundation that enables the building to remain steady during earthquakes. This seismic base isolation system ensures the hospital can withstand a magnitude 7.9 earthquake and remain operational for at least 96 hours afterward, exceeding California's stringent code requirements. The hospital's garage can quickly convert into a triage centre during emergencies, further showcasing its adaptability and community-centric design.
The integration of advanced technology and innovative design at Stanford Hospital demonstrates a commitment to providing exceptional medical care, research, and education. The hospital sets a new standard for healthcare facilities, blending cutting-edge technology with a patient-centric approach to create a transformative healthcare experience.
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Earthquake-resistant architecture
The new Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, is a cutting-edge healthcare facility that promotes patient and staff wellness and showcases resilient architecture. The hospital was designed by Perkins Eastman and constructed by McCarthy Healthcare Construction.
Stanford Hospital is designed to be earthquake-resistant, with the ability to withstand a magnitude 7.9 seismic event and remain operational for at least 96 hours afterward. This exceeds California's stringent code requirements. The hospital features 206 base isolation pendulums located below the structure's steel columns, enabling it to withstand significant seismic activity.
There are several design philosophies and techniques used in earthquake-resistant architecture. One common method is base isolation, where the building's foundation is "lifted" above the earth using flexible steel, rubber, and lead pads. During an earthquake, the isolators vibrate while the structure remains steady, absorbing seismic waves and preventing them from travelling through the building. Another innovative technique is the ""seismic invisibility cloak," which involves burying 100 concentric plastic and concrete rings at least 3 feet beneath the building's foundation. This redirects seismic waves away from the building and dissipates them into the ground.
Other important features of earthquake-resistant architecture include flexible foundations, damping, vibration deflection technology, shear walls, cross braces, diaphragms, and moment-resisting frames. These elements provide stability and allow the building to withstand and deflect the forces of an earthquake. Moment-resisting frames, for example, offer additional flexibility by allowing columns and beams to bend while the joints remain rigid.
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Frequently asked questions
The new Stanford Hospital is designed by a team led by Rafael Viñoly Architects. The $2 billion project is the result of more than a decade of work, including six years of construction.
David Entwistle is the President and CEO of Stanford Health Care. He joined Stanford Health Care in July 2016 and has extensive executive experience at leading academic medical centers.
Some of the other key people involved in the project include Jennie Crews, MD President & CEO of Stanford Medicine Partners, Chief Medical Officer, Ambulatory Care–Stanford Medicine Partners; Rachel De Guzman, Senior Vice President, Planning, Design & Construction; and Alison Kerr, Senior Vice President, Destination Service Lines and Chief Clinical Operations Officer.











































