Stanford Medical Center’s plans for expansion and redevelopment — over a million added square feet at a cost of $2 billion — are on course, according to recent reports.

In spite of concerns surrounding certain project developments, the University’s early proposals to rebuild Stanford Hospital and modernize Lucile Packard Children’s Center and the School of Medicine have all gone according to plan, the University said. An environmental impact report by the city of Palo Alto is the next hurdle planners must clear.

The hospital is satisfied with the way expansion plans are progressing, according to Executive Director of Public Affairs Shelley Hebert.

“The project is currently going through the approval process with the city of Palo Alto, including the reviews by the Planning and Transportation Commission and the Architectural Review Board, as well as updates and discussions with the City Council,” Hebert wrote in an email to The Weekly. “Our current projection for completing the new Stanford Hospital is 2015-2016, so we are comfortable with the timing at this point but would be very concerned if delayed beyond 2009 for approvals.”

Aspects of the project currently under review and seeking city approval range from transportation designs to basic architectural schemes. Furthermore, the city of Palo Alto is currently developing its Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Mandated by the State of California’s Environmental Quality Act, the EIR could significantly influence how expansion and construction will proceed.

A statement from the city of Palo Alto explained that the purpose of an EIR is to provide the public with detailed information about the environmental effects of a proposed project. The report will also lists ways to minimize the effects of the project and discuss alternatives to building.

Palo Alto City Project Leader Steven Turner explained that the city’s main attention is now focused on completing a draft of the EIR and finishing a suitable analysis of Stanford’s plans.

“As of now, we are completing the Environmental Impact Report process and some preliminary architectural review analysis of the application,” he explained. “We are still in analysis mode and have not yet completed the EIR nor the design review. The EIR is expected to be released in November and we will be continuing on the design review this year.”

Recent concerns, however, have arisen regarding the possible repercussions of the Environmental Impact Report.

“Issues that have been raised in the community include traffic and mitigations for that traffic,” Turner said. “The expansion could potentially bring additional employees, and employees typically need housing. The question is, is there going to be a need for housing as a result of expanding with this project?”

The completion of the Environmental Impact Report is crucial to the smooth continuation of the project.

“The current projected schedule for issuing the draft report at the end of 2009 is very important for keeping the project on track and meeting the legal requirements of the seismic safety issues,” said Hebert, pointing out that the hospital must meet state seismic requirements by 2013.

The New Hospital

Seismic concerns are a large part of the rationale for rebuilding the Medical Center. The new facilities, which will be built on the existing footprint of the current Medical Center, are to be funded at around $2 billion — a combination of borrowed funds, funds from current operations and donations, Hebert said.

Citing a need for more space, better facilities and seismically sound buildings, the hospital’s move toward improvement will place it at the cutting-edge of health practice. The Stanford Hospital is to be completely rebuilt, leading to a net increase of 724,000 square feet and an additional 144 patient beds, while the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is to expanded by 401,500 square feet for an added 104 patient beds.

The University’s School of Medicine will have its lab facilities replaced with newer, integrated laboratories for education and research. In all, there is a projected increase of 1,991 more employees throughout the Hospital Center for improved care and patient attention.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the project is its ability to allow the Hospital Center to remain in operation during construction.

“The existing Stanford Hospital will remain fully open and serving the patients during the five-year construction period of the new facility,” Hebert said. “When the new facility is completed, redevelopment of the older portions of the existing hospital building will proceed.”

“There will be no disruption in patient care during the construction,” she added, “which is one of the significant advantages and benefits of the proposed plans.”