When the doors open at Mills-Peninsula's new Medical Center in 2010, visitors will find a healthy environment inside and out.

Designed and built using the latest earth-friendly techniques and recycled materials, from low-toxicity rubber floor tiles to café cabinets made of renewable resources such as bamboo, the $528 million, 450,000-square-foot facility will contribute to the community's health through both services and setting.

Mills-Peninsula staff, members of the media and community leaders celebrated an historic moment in San Mateo County health care history on November 1, 2006 with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Medical Center at 1783 El Camino Real in Burlingame.

"This is such an important project," Mills-Peninsula CEO Bob Merwin said. "We are at last ready to replace our 50-year-old hospital and ensure 21st-century medical care for everyone in our community."

Following the destructive 1994 Northridge earthquake, the state legislature passed stricter seismic safety rules for hospital buildings that required most to renovate, rebuild or close by 2013. Many opted to retrofit. Mills-Peninsula chose to build the region's safest, most technologically advanced hospital on the grounds adjoining the current Peninsula Medical Center at no expense to taxpayers.

At a time when many emergency departments nationwide have closed, Mills-Peninsula's new hospital will expand its emergency department by 42 percent.

In August, the community gave its blessing to the new hospital project when 93 percent of voters in the Peninsula Health Care District approved Mills-Peninsula's rebuilding plan and a 50-year lease agreement. In addition to offering base isolation, advanced engineering technology that provides the highest level of earthquake safety, the new six-story acute care medical center will contain countless energy-saving and earth-friendly features. In recognition of its commitment to green practices, the nonprofit group Hospitals for a Healthy Environment recognized Mills-Peninsula with a national 2006 Environmental Leadership Award.

Green principles and practices Mills-Peninsula will use in constructing its new facility include:

• Water-based paints and other low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products that emit far fewer fumes and chemicals than found in many commercial products


• Flooring free of PVC, or vinyl, considered the most environmentally damaging type of plastic


• Furniture upholstery containing recycled materials


• Architecture that takes fullest advantage of daylight to cut energy use for lighting and heating


• Energy-efficient ventilation (using only fresh, outdoor air), heating and water systems expected to reduce annual energy use by 33 percent compared with typical new hospital designs

The current facility will remain in operation until the new hospital is complete, so the community will experience no disruption in medical service.

People treated at the new Medical Center will find many patient-centered features designed to speed healing and promote comfort, from private rooms for the hospital's 243 beds to healing gardens and walking trails. Additional conveniences include an 809-space parking garage and an attached office building for physician specialists who need to be close to patients in the hospital, such as obstetricians and surgeons.

Electronic patient charting, Internet-based communications systems and telemetry monitoring capability reflect Mills-Peninsula's 21st-century commitment to providing cutting edge medical technology and expertise to the community.

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