Named for the Donald Friese family in recognition of its $50 million donation to the building’s construction, the five-storey, 200,000-square-foot Friese Family Tower welcomed its first patients on 1 October.

Describing the facility as the start of a new healthcare era in the San Fernando Valley, Nick Lymberopoulos, chief executive at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center, said: “When we began construction on this building six years ago, we said we wanted to create a modern, full-service healthcare campus that could offer Valley residents incredible care, incredibly close to home. Today, this vision has become a reality. We’re grateful to the team at Cedars-Sinai, our physicians, caregivers, donors, partners, and the community for their collaboration in building this new facility, which will help transform the delivery of healthcare in this region.”

The Friese Family Tower is a centrepiece of the 50-year-old hospital’s ‘Tarzana Reimagined’ expansion and renovation project. Features of the new building include: 150 spacious, private patient rooms; a new emergency department that doubles the capacity of the hospital’s former emergency department; a new pharmacy with a pneumatic tubing system; a paediatric unit with a playroom for younger patients and a dedicated room for adolescent patients; a cardiovascular unit; and a critical care unit. New technology, including a 512-slice CT scanner, will help provide better patient care and expand access to the latest diagnostics and treatment.

Created with patient and family needs in mind, the Friese Family Tower also has visitor waiting rooms on all levels, and recliners and sleeper sofas in all patient rooms to help families stay close to their loved ones receiving care.

Commented the president and chief executive of Cedars-Sinai Health System, Thomas M. Priselac: “Cedars-Sinai and Providence joined together in a shared vision to ensure easy access to the highest-quality care for those who live and work in the Valley. This modern facility reflects our commitment to bringing compassionate care, specialty services and advanced treatments closer to home.”

Designed by Perkins&Will and built by McCarthy Building Companies, the Friese Family Tower features a nature-oriented design theme and colour scheme of soft cool blues – a combination that is said to elevate the care experience with healing environments, a contemplative garden, and original art from Los Angeles area artists.

“The Friese Family Tower brings nature into the heart of the hospital with natural light and views of the healing garden, guiding the way to the emergency department and the new tower elevators,” said Jean Mah, principal at Perkins&Will. “An abstracted curved petals theme is carried throughout the hospital, evoking nature and healing.”

Talents of diverse experts

Built to withstand an 8.7 earthquake, the tower is designed to match Silver LEED energy efficiency certification. Its construction required the time and talents of diverse local and national experts, including geotechnical professionals, an arborist and an archaeologist, as well as a palaeontologist and members of local Native American tribes, who were called in to assist when historic artifacts were found during the site’s excavation.

“The McCarthy Building Companies team is proud to be part of the Tarzana Reimagined project,” said Erik Chessmore, vice-president, operations at McCarthy. “The Friese Family Tower represents a dramatic shift in the healthcare landscape of our community and serves the catalyst for a brighter future for generations to come.”

There is more ahead for the Tarzana Reimagined project, including breaking ground in 2024 on a hybrid surgical suite and an advanced diagnostic and treatment centre on the hospital site.