The newly completed North Tower at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla is a state-of-the-art, 420,000-square-foot, eight-story facility designed to expand access to care and strengthen the overall Scripps healthcare system. Accommodating 188 inpatient beds, the tower features advanced imaging, an innovative surgery department, and comprehensive mother-baby services, including a NICU, labor and delivery suites, and postpartum care.

Strategically situated next to the Prebys Cardiovascular Institute, the North Tower integrates modern architectural elements with contextual features that seamlessly blend into its surroundings. Throughout, the design prioritizes a positive patient experience, delivering optimized workflows, tranquil respite areas, and cutting-edge labor, delivery, and recovery floors to ensure comfort and peace of mind for patients and families.

The facility provides access to outdoor gardens from the Labor and Delivery and NICU floors, offering serene spaces for families. On the seventh floor, the postpartum unit delivers sweeping views of La Jolla, enhancing the healing environment.

A centrally located cafeteria is filled with natural light and features dedicated dining and lounge areas. The surgical suite includes nine new operating rooms, an expanded preoperative holding area, and improved staff visibility through a glass-walled workroom. A rooftop helipad supports emergency care needs.

The project also encompasses the expansion of the central energy plant and various site improvements, optimizing overall hospital operations.

Purposefully designed for efficient, patient-centered care, the North Tower elevates the campus’s ability to provide leading-edge healthcare in an environment focused on comfort, collaboration, and long-term community benefit.

Design: HGA
General Contractor: McCarthy Building Companies
Structural Engineer: KPFF
Civil Engineer: KPFF
Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing: Affiliated Engineers
Photography: Lawrence Anderson