The UCSF-John Muir Health Jean and Ken Hofmann Cancer Center at the Behring Pavilion is now open. LEARN MORE >
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2024
(Walnut Creek, CA) – (July 25, 2024) – Other LEED and patient-friendly design features include accessible walking paths and respite areas incorporated into the lush landscape and a meditation garden with multiple seating arrangements connected to the building, which allows staff, patients, and visitors opportunities to take a break outdoors and relax. The landscaping incorporates native and drought friendly plants, including plants known for their healing properties, such as echinacea.
Ensuring patient comfort during visits and treatments is critical, especially during hot summer days. To achieve this, the Behring Pavilion became the first medical office building in California to utilize highly efficient evaporative air-cooled chillers that utilize magnetically levitated bearings, which are significantly more energy efficient than conventional air-cooled chillers.
The LEED designation was also awarded, in part, based on the innovative solar panel system on the Pavilion’s roof and in the nearby John Muir Health employee parking lot. Combined, the solar panel systems generate more than one thousand kilowatts of electricity that feeds the facility, offsetting its energy use and contributing to the sustainability approach. The electricity generated is enough to power 250 homes, and any surplus power during off hours of the Behring Pavilion is sent to the John Muir Health, Walnut Creek Medical Center campus’ power distribution system.
The LEED rating is based on a point system, with buildings earning points for meeting certain criteria in categories such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and indoor environmental quality. The Behring Pavilion was awarded LEED Gold status and is believed to be the first health care facility in Contra Cost County to earn the distinction.
“The Behring Pavilion project was a great team effort, from the architect (SmithGroup) to the general contractor (Swinerton), to the sub-contractors, and John Muir Health’s Facilities Development team,” said Monaldo. “We took great pride in constructing a building that would serve the needs of our patients, providers, and staff while also being environmentally friendly.”
About John Muir Health
John Muir Health is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit health care organization east of San Francisco serving patients in Contra Costa, Alameda, and southern Solano Counties. It includes a network of more than 1,000 primary care and specialty physicians, 6,300 employees, medical centers in Concord and Walnut Creek, including Contra Costa County’s only trauma center and a Behavioral Health Center. John Muir Health also has partnerships with UCSF Health, Tenet Healthcare/San Ramon Regional Medical Center, Stanford Children's Health, Optum, and Carbon Health. The health system offers a full-range of medical services, including primary care, outpatient, and imaging services, and is widely recognized as a leader in many specialties – neurosciences, orthopedic, cancer, cardiovascular, trauma, emergency, pediatrics, and high-risk obstetrics care.
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