Engineering News-Record recently named the new Palomar Medical Center in Escondido the 2012 "Best of the Best Health Care Projects" nationally as well as California’s “Best Health Care Project” and “Best Overall Project.” The three awards were given to Palomar Health, CO Architects and DPR. According to ENR editors, “Best of the Best Projects” winners are “truly outstanding examples for the entire construction industry of teamwork, safety, overcoming challenges, innovation, and quality.” In February, the editors of ENR will select one project from the national “Best of the Best Projects” winners as the editor’s choice and Palomar Medical Center is eligible for this award.

Dubbed the “Hospital of the Future,” Palomar Medical Center is sited on 40 acres. The building has an 11-story patient tower—two wings intersecting at a central garden—and a two-story diagnostic and treatment wing, topped by an undulating 1.5-acre green roof planted with native flora to mimic nearby hillsides. The hospital includes 360 patient beds, 12 operating rooms and a trauma center. Read more about the award here and more about the project here.

Photos courtesy of: David Cox

In addition to Palomar Medical Center, five other DPR projects won regional ENR awards, including:

• Novelis Project Forward
• Sutter Health Eden Medical Center
• Packard Foundation Headquarters
• University of Arizona Medical Center Behavioral Health Pavilion
• DPR's Phoenix office (LEED®-NC Platinum building that recently achieved net zero)

Congratulations to all involved!