On Feb. 6, UC Davis Health held a topping out ceremony for the California Tower, marking the structural completion of the new hospital building on its Sacramento campus. The event featured the placement of the final steel beam, signifying a major milestone in the construction process.
The project is part of UC Davis Health’s Vision 2030 campus plan and is expected to add about 1 million square feet of space when completed in 2030. The expansion will include a 14-story hospital and five-story pavilion with new operating rooms, an imaging center, updated pharmacy and burn care units, and approximately 334 additional inpatient beds. This increase aims to reduce pressure on the emergency department and address growing health care needs in the community. According to UC Davis Health, this project represents the largest health system capital expansion in the United States today.
Mike Condrin, interim chief executive officer for UC Davis Health, said, “A topping out is a chance for us to pause and recognize how far we’ve come (…) There’s still work ahead, but today shows our vision is becoming real. We can now see the future, and it is incredibly inspiring.”
The ceremony followed a long-standing construction tradition believed to bring good fortune by placing a final beam at the top of a structure. Attendees included UC Davis Health leaders, project partners, and community representatives who signed the final beam before it was hoisted into place.
Jill Tomczyk, executive director of capital projects, said, “This reminds us of what is possible when preparation meets purpose, and when teams come together to perform at the highest level (…) That kind of work demands technical ability, dedication, fortitude and real pride in your craft. This team delivered on all of that.”
Chancellor Gary May said that UC Davis is shaping Sacramento’s skyline through projects like Aggie Square and emphasized that Vision 2030 represents more than just facility expansion but also investment in people. Jason Nietupski, vice president of Facilities Planning and Development, added that staff deserve facilities matching their excellence.
The $3.7 billion California Tower project involves several collaborators including Cambridge CM, McCarthy Building Companies Inc., SmithGroup, Degenkolb Engineers, Schuff Steel, Pacific Erectors Inc., Conco Concrete Reinforcement, Olson & Co. Steel Inc., and Maxim Crane Works.
