IMEG is providing structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, technology, and acoustic engineering and design services for San Diego County’s Psychiatric Hospital renovation, and is serving as the prime consultant to the County of San Diego. Since this building was designed in 1986, IMEG first created an updated 3-D model of the facility for renovation design purposes. These renovation designs will bring the hospital up to date and provide patients and nurses with an efficient facility.

The design included the replacement of outdated backup generators to new generators that will allow all systems in the hospital to run on emergency power for a duration. Engineers will also work with subcontractors and architects to redesign the kitchen to provide an adequately-sized eating area to alleviate overcrowded and rushed lunch groups. This project will also bring the hospital up-to-date with the California OSHPD code.

The design and construction of this project faces a short, demanding schedule. The hospital will be occupied during all design and construction phases, creating a need to divide the hospital into zones and phase the construction per zone. This will allow patients to be moved to habitable zones while construction occurs in uninhabited zones and not affect the construction completion date.