The demolition is required to comply with SB 1953, the state seismic safety law for hospitals. The north-south wing encases the original 1928 hospital building — a C-shaped, three-story structure with a basement. In 1950, an addition was built on top of and around the original structure, increasing its size to six stories. Encompassing 184,000 square feet, the wing houses, among other units, the emergency department, cardiology, clinical laboratories, neonatal intensive care, labor and delivery, the GI and pulmonary labs, and Patient Care Services administration. Officials decided to demolish the wing because the cost of renovating it could equal or exceed the cost of a comparable, more efficient new building.

A new facade, lobby and elevators will be constructed on the west face of the east wing. A landscape area will be constructed between the new facade and the existing parking structure.