Winter 2003
THE RISING
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2  What
he has watched emerging on the southwest corner of Westwood Plaza
and Young Drive South is a hospital for the 21st century that marries
cutting-edge medical technology with state-of-the-art patient care.
Not only will the new facility provide the newest and best equipment,
it also will incorporate an aesthetic awareness that seeks to make
the hospital experience, as difficult as it is, one that is more
humane for patients and their families. The interior of the eight-story
structure will be flooded with natural light from windows that overlook
gardens, green spaces and gathering places. All of the 525 rooms
will be spacious and private, and will include hook-ups so that
most diagnostic procedures can be done at the bedside. Within each
room is an area for family members who wish to stay overnight. Individual
elevators are designated for patients, and a special elevator equipped
with diagnostic equipment will carry trauma patients directly from
the two helicopter pads to the emergency room.
The
construction of the new UCLA hospital, which will combine UCLA Medical
Center, the Neuropsychiatric Hospital and Mattel Children’s
Hospital, coupled with the renovation of Santa Monica-UCLA Hospital
ranks as one of Southern California’s largest building projects.
Together, the two facilities will provide the most comprehensive
medical services in the western United States. On its own, the new
1.1-million-square-foot hospital is immense, incorporating 7 million
pounds of steel rebar, 44,700 cubic yards of concrete, 23,000 tons
of steel, 80,000 square feet of window glass and 264,000 square
feet of travertine wall panels.
“It
has been like watching the emergence of a vision for the future,”
says Ehrlich. “I see everything that is wonderful in the hospital
we now have being duplicated and improved upon in this new building.
There will be marvelous new medical technologies, and at the same
time it is artistically beautiful. I feel that I have been very
privileged to be able to photograph it. It is going to be spectacular.”
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View
a slideshow of Richard Ehrlich's images.