About SB1953 and Seismic Safety

Patient Care Pavilion Project

The purpose of this building project is to perform a seismic upgrade of the acute care patient care facilities in the Merritt Pavilion of our Summit Campus. The building will meet and exceed the seismic safety requirements of Senate Bill (SB) 1953, designed to ensure the safety of hospitals in California in the event of a major earthquake.

SB 1953 requires every hospital building to comply with two deadlines:

• By January 1, 2013, every hospital must meet specific construction standards established to keep these structures standing after a major earthquake.
• By January 1, 2030, all hospital buildings must comply with standards intended to keep hospitals open and providing medical care following a severe earthquake.

Under these stringent earthquake safety requirements, Alta Bates Summit must upgrade and/or rebuild components of our Oakland facilities. We know that in the event of any emergency, the one structure that must be available is our community hospital. Our patients, staff and community deserve this protection.