May 5, 2025
Contact:
Kerjon Lee, Chief, Strategic Communications, LA County Public Works
(626) 476-0533, kelee@dpw.lacounty.gov
Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell Led Topping Out Ceremony of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Construction Project
Hospital building topping out marks major milestone for largest capital improvement program in Los Angeles County history
LOS ANGELES (May 5, 2025)– Los Angeles County Second District Supervisor, Holly J. Mitchell, was joined by a host of Los Angeles County officials and project leaders to conduct the topping out ceremony for construction of the nine-story hospital building as part of the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Replacement Project.
A topping out ceremony consists of placing the final steel beam (signed by Supervisor Mitchell, Los Angeles County officials and project leadership) atop of the completed steel structure. This is a tradition that dates back more than 1,000 years across numerous cultures. In modern times, topping out ceremonies mark significant project milestones and recognize the collective efforts of all the construction workers and stakeholders. The placement of the final beam signifies the structure’s highest point and marks a significant step towards completion.
The Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Replacement Program is a $1.8 billion investment that will improve access and equity to underserved communities and expand healthcare capabilities at the only Level I Trauma Center in south LA County.
“I’m pleased with the progress and pace at which the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Replacement Project’s construction is advancing. Today’s topping out ceremony demonstrates Los Angeles County’s commitment to completing the project on time so we can provide state-of-the-art health care and medical facilities to more than three million Angelenos who depend on this hospital,” said Supervisor Mitchell. “We invested in this $1.8 billion project because it addresses inequitable access to healthcare and is serving as a local economic engine, creating hundreds of jobs for residents that live in the surrounding neighborhood.”
“As a Level 1 Trauma Center, Harbor-UCLA is a lifeline for South LA residents, delivering high-quality and equitable care for some of our most vulnerable communities,” said Dr. Christina Ghaly, Director of LA County Department of Health Services. “I am incredibly proud to be a part of this project, which will ensure that our patients and workforce have the necessary infrastructure to ensure we continue to deliver excellent care for generations to come.”
The project is the largest capital improvement program delivered by the County, consisting of over 30 projects including construction of six new buildings. The Hospital is the final building to be constructed under the program.
When completed, the new state-of-the-art Harbor-UCLA Medical Center will be a 9-story, 555,000-square-foot building with 347 patient beds, which will include 44 intensive care, over 200 medical surgical, 20 neonatal intensive, and 36 mental health beds.
It will also serve as a model of sustainability as a LEED Gold Certified building.
With a service area of over 3 million people, the re-imagined 72-acre campus will continue to be a center of excellence in healthcare delivery, urban health promotion and prevention, workforce development, academic research and teaching, and economic development. In addition, Harbor- UCLA is also planned to support the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Medical Center continues to operate at full capacity during construction, which is expected to be completed in 2028. For more information about the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Replacement Project, please visit the project’s website here.