Kaiser Permanente is set to expand its Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Oregon, with a state-of-the-art hospital tower, making it the first fully electric hospital in the state. The new facility is expected to open in 2029, with construction beginning in early 2026.
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Modernizing Health Care at Sunnyside Medical Center
The upcoming seven-story, 615,000-square-foot hospital tower will bring cutting-edge technology, increased service capacity, and improved patient amenities, including:
- 100% private patient rooms
- In-room telemedicine capabilities, advanced robotics, and image-guided surgical equipment
- Expanded emergency room capacity to reduce wait times and enhance patient care
- Improved navigation and wayfinding for patients, staff, and visitors
- Enhanced natural lighting, green spaces, walking paths, and healing gardens
The current hospital will remain operational throughout the construction period to ensure continuity of patient care. The Brookside Center, which houses residential mental health and addiction medicine treatment services, will also remain in place.
A Landmark for Sustainability
With the completion of this new tower, Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center will become the first fully electric hospital in Oregon. This initiative aligns with the organization’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, improving air quality, and eliminating reliance on fossil fuels.
“Since opening its doors in 1975, Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center has been a center of care excellence and innovation, where our doctors, nurses, and staff save lives, bring new lives into the world, and help patients navigate everything from minor procedures to the most complex heart surgeries,” said Wendy Watson, regional president of Kaiser Permanente of the Northwest. “This significant upgrade to our campus will take us into the future of health care, where we look forward to providing leading-edge, compassionate care to our community for the next 50 years and beyond.”
Serving the Portland Metro Community
As Sunnyside Medical Center approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025, it continues to play a critical role in the Portland metro community, with 2,300 health care professionals providing care for thousands of patients annually. The hospital is home to:
- Kaiser Permanente’s regional centers for neurosurgery and adult cancer care
- A Level III neonatal intensive care unit
- The Kaiser Permanente Northwest Center for Heart and Vascular Care
- The only hospital in Oregon and Washington to receive the America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery Award for 10 consecutive years (as of February 2025)
Campus Enhancements Beyond the Hospital Tower
Once the new hospital tower is operational, Kaiser Permanente plans to replace the current hospital tower with additional parking, walkways, and outdoor spaces. Other facilities on the campus, including three medical offices offering specialty care, pharmacy, and imaging services, will continue to serve the community but will not be part of the construction project.
Expanding Health Care Access in the Region
Sunnyside Medical Center is one of two Kaiser Permanente hospitals serving Oregon and Southwest Washington, alongside Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, which opened in 2013.
This expansion marks a significant investment in the future of health care, reinforcing Kaiser Permanente’s mission to provide high-quality, affordable medical services while prioritizing sustainability and innovation.
For more information, view the fact sheet for the new Sunnyside Medical Center hospital tower.
Originally reported by Debbie Karman in Kaiser Permanente.