Project Overview
Mortenson is leading the Harborview Medical Center modernization program— a comprehensive healthcare infrastructure upgrade at the region’s only Level I trauma and burn center. The project includes construction of a new multi-story inpatient medical tower, emergency department expansion, and campus-wide facility and infrastructure improvements.
Key Takeaways:
- Level I Trauma Center Modernization: Upgrades to one of the Pacific Northwest’s most critical public healthcare facilities.
- Design-Build Healthcare Expertise: Integrated delivery with Perkins & Will to manage complex phasing and operational continuity.
- Operational Continuity During Construction: Phased execution maintains uninterrupted patient care.
- Long-Term Resilience & Sustainability: Infrastructure investments enhance reliability, safety, and future adaptability.
- Estimated Completion Date
August 2032
- Project Cost
$1.74 Billion
- Delivery Method
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Progressive Design-Build
- Additional Project Facts
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New Multi-story Inpatient Medical Tower
Infrastructure Improvements
Renovations to Existing Hospital
Owner: King County
Operated By: UW Medicine
Project Purpose & Regional Impact
A Once-in-a-Generation Investment in Public Health
Harborview Medical Center is nationally recognized as a premier Level I adult and pediatric trauma and burn center. It serves over 16,000 inpatients annually and provides specialty care in neurosurgery, rehabilitation, mental health, and infectious diseases. Beyond emergency care, it functions as a major teaching hospital for UW Medicine and the only Level I trauma center for the broader community.
Serving the five-state WWAMI region—Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho—Harborview’s role in disaster response, complex patient care, and specialty medicine makes it an irreplaceable public health asset. To support current and future healthcare demands, King County voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.74 billion bond measure to modernize the campus and expand critical infrastructure—ensuring Harborview can continue to deliver exceptional care, no matter the need.
Delivery Method: Progressive Design-Build
In 2025, Mortenson and Perkins&Will were selected as the program’s design-build team after an extensive competitive process—chosen for their deep healthcare expertise and collaborative approach to delivering complex medical facilities.
With just 540 beds and growing demand across trauma, behavioral health, and acute care services, Harborview urgently needed modernization. Yet its dense urban location and 24/7 operations posed a major challenge: how do you deliver large-scale improvements without disrupting critical care?
The answer: phased planning, precise sequencing, and a design-build team deeply experienced in healthcare delivery. The phased program is designed to keep Harborview 100% operational throughout construction—a testament to the coordination and care driving every phase of the program.
"The Right Team for the Future of Harborview"
We are thrilled to welcome this seasoned and thoughtful design-build team on board, and we cannot wait to see the new tower take shape under this partnership. Harborview Medical Center is an irreplaceable asset to King County and communities across the state. Through this work, we are ensuring that our most vulnerable residents continue to receive world-class care in modern, accessible, and sustainable facilities.
It’s an incredible honor to partner with King County and UW Medicine on a project of this magnitude and meaning. Harborview is a cornerstone of public health in the region, and we’re deeply committed to delivering a campus that reflects the strength, resilience, and compassion this community deserves.
Key Program Elements: Building a Safer, Smarter Future
The Harborview Bond Program will modernize the hospital and strengthen long-term performance through:
- New multi-story inpatient medical tower built to advanced seismic and sustainability standards will house trauma and acute care in a modern, patient-centered environment
- Major emergency department expansion will ensure faster, more dignified care for patients in urgent need
- Infrastructure modernization to support long-term performance and resilience
- Campus renovations that upgrade aging facilities and improve care delivery environments
Construction is expected to begin in 2027 or 2028, with phased work planned to keep the hospital fully operational every step of the way.
Project Highlights: A Commitment Backed by Numbers
- $1.74 billion public investment approved by voters
- Serving the five-state WWAMI region across the Pacific Northwest
- 540+ beds modernized and expanded
- Designed to meet LEED sustainability goals
- Hospital remains 100% operational throughout all phases of construction
Elevating the Patient and Provider Experience
Every element of the program is designed to improve care delivery and support the people at the heart of Harborview, including:
- Modern, adaptable care spaces with improved access and flow
- Infrastructure that supports long-term system resilience
- Dignified, equitable environments for patients, staff, and visitors
Building for the Long Term
Harborview’s transformation is more than a capital program—it’s a public promise. From environmental sustainability to health equity and regional resilience, this work represents a bold, forward-looking investment in the future of care.
With voter trust, stakeholder alignment, and a deeply collaborative team, this once-in-a-generation program will ensure Harborview continues to serve as a beacon of hope, safety, and healing for decades to come.
