$52.9M Allocated For Seismic Upgrades At Riverside University Medical Center Campus

RIVERSIDE, CA — Riverside County supervisors Tuesday signed off on a final project budget of $52.9 million for seismic upgrades at the Riverside University Medical Center campus that are intended to improve safety in the event of a major earthquake.

In a 5-0 vote without comment Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors established the spending blueprint, which includes a $5.79 million contract with Riverside-based Tilden-Coil Constructors Inc. for construction management services, over the duration of the Riverside University Health System Structural & Non-Structural Upgrade Project.

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The project, which will rely on ongoing hospital revenue to cover expenses, was initiated in summer 2022, but has been largely focused on design phase work since that time.

According to documents posted to the board's agenda, the Moreno Valley medical campus has three buildings that do not currently meet state-mandated Alquist Seismic Safety Act minimum standards for "fire sprinkler bracing," and those facilities will be the focus of the modifications.

The specific edifices are the Central Plant Building, the Generation Yard Building and the Ancillary Building. Additionally, the project calls for installation of a new water supply tank to provide a free-standing reservoir that can feed the emergency sprinkler systems.

The main hospital, which includes the emergency room, meets minimum standards and is not part of the current project, officials said.

"The state-mandated improvements ensure ... hospitals are capable of weathering a seismic event of magnitude 6.5 on the Richter scale and continue to operate," the Executive Office stated.

Refitting and bracing the fire sprinkler systems in each building will mean greater "structural resilience" during a potentially damaging temblor, according to documents.

The county is under a deadline of Jan. 1, 2030, to complete the seismic work, making the project of "extreme importance," the Executive Office said.

Most of the campus was built in the early 1990s, though a few facilities have been added on since that time.