TEHACHAPI, CA—Construction is underway on Tehachapi Health Care District's new $90 million, 25-bed Tehachapi Critical Care Replacement Hospital. The joint venture team of Bernards, a nationally-ranked commercial builder, and Bakersfield-based Colombo Construction, are in construction on the new hospital. Designed by Stephen Wen, senior principal at SWA Architects, the 77,889-square-foot, “critical access” hospital, will offer acute care and outpatient services and will be the only health care facility in this rural area of Kern County. The facility will offer all health care services provided by a large hospital, but on a smaller scale, explained William Lopez, bernard's senior project engineer, in a recent progress video. Bernards At Tehachapi

This state-of-the-art hospital will include 16 medical/surgical beds, four intensive care beds, and a five-bed obstetrical unit (labor and delivery/postpartum), as well as an emergency room, anesthesia services, a radiology/imaging center, a clinical laboratory, dietetic services space, a pharmacy, and nearly 16,000 square feet for administrative offices. Facility support functions such as a central plant, general storage area and laundry will also be contained in the building.

“With the return of labor and delivery services after a long hiatus, Tehachapi-area residents will have access to a nearby birthing center,” said Bernards EVP Steve Pellegren, noting that formerly new mothers had to travel to Bakersfield to receive obstetrical care. “This safe, aesthetically pleasing, state-of-the-art facility is an excellent model for rural hospitals and will serve this community well for many years to come,” he added. “Bernards is pleased to be part a project that means so much to the Tehachapi community.” The new hospital is scheduled for completion in 2016.