Enloe Century Project Frequently Asked Questions
What is Enloe Century Project? 
The Enloe Century Project is an expansion of Enloe Medical Center at 1531 Esplanade in Chico.
The project consists of a new five-story patient tower; a single-story Emergency Center; a single-story Surgical Center; a four-level, three-story parking structure; and a park for all to enjoy. The patient tower is being built on the west side of the existing five-story patient tower, and the two buildings will connect. The expansion will enable Enloe to meet the health care needs of the growing community and satisfy the 2013 deadline imposed by the state of California for hospitals to rebuild or retrofit their facilities to meet strict seismic standards.
What will the expansion offer?
- A five-story patient tower with a Mediterranean-style facade. It will provide an additional 191,000 square feet of space and will create an additional 140 new rooms, providing a total of 233 private rooms at the Esplanade campus. It will also include:
- Two new intensive care units with 12 beds each for cardiovascular and neuro-trauma patients
- The Nettleton Mother & Baby Care Center, dedicating the fourth floor to maternity services offering private rooms with private bathrooms and showers. This unit will also include triage rooms, a specialty care nursery and a family lounge. The post-partum rooms will provide ample space for the comfort of the mother, baby and family, including furniture that enables loved ones to spend the night and private bathroom and shower.
- Larger medical-surgical units
- New main entrance with a receptioin area, lounge, garden cafe, gift shop and meditation room to provide a place of comfort
- A comfortable family lounge on each upper floor with a refreshment area providing water and a microwave oven
- Separate elevators for patients and the public
- Employee lounges with lockers on each floor
- A museum highlighting nearly a century of service
- A single-story Emergency Center that will triple the size of the existing emergency department and will be equipped with a deducated X-ray and CT-scan.
- A single story Surgery Center that will double the number of existing surgical suites. It will include dedicated heart, neurological and orthopedic operating rooms, and have its own street entrance, reception area and lounge.
- A four-level, three-story parking structure for employees and physicians
- A park for all to enjoy
Will the existing patient tower be renovated?
Yes. Enloe will continue to improve the existing hospital and campus. These improvements will include:
- Renovations to 28,000 square feet of existing hospital space
- Upgrades to the existing building facade to complement the new tower
- Landscaping enhancements (See drawing of proposed plan at right.)
- A family lounge in each nursing unit
Tell me about the new parking structure.
Our new four-level, three-story parking structure, shown in the photo at right, opened in August 2008. It provides 742 parking spaces for employees and physicians. Located between West 6th and West 7th Avenues between Magnolia Avenue and Esplanade, the building has a Mediterranean-style façade that complements the new patient tower’s exterior. Its beauty is enhanced by art panels featuring the work of local artists.
What is the new park?
A park is the third phase of the project. It will be located approximately between West 5th and 6th Avenues, from Arcadian to Magnolia.
When will the Century Project be completed?
- Construction for the patient tower and Surgical Center are expected to be completed by spring 2011; both are set to open their doors in early 2011.
- Construction for the Emergency Center will begin spring 2011, and is expected to be complete by summer 2012.
- Construction on the park is expected to begin in spring 2013.
- Our parking structure, the first phase of the expansion, opened in August 2008. (See photo at right.)
When was the last expansion of the medical center?
The Enloe Century Project is the fourth expansion of its Esplanade campus. The maternity, ancillary and south wings were added in 1950, 1968 and 1971 respectively. Enloe’s first patient tower opened in 1980.
Why is Enloe planning to expand?
After the Northridge earthquake in 1994, the state of California passed legislation requiring hospitals to rebuild or retrofit their facilities to meet strict seismic standards by 2013 – or shut down completely. The legislation was written to assure that hospitals throughout the state remain relatively undamaged and operational after a major earthquake. The Century Project enables Enloe to meet the deadline. The existing patient tower, completed in 1980, is compliant with seismic guidelines. The new patient tower will house the patient units in the original hospital building, constructed in 1937 as well the additions made before 1979. When the tower is complete, these older structures will be converted into offices and other non-patient care uses.
The expansion will also allow Enloe to accommodate more patients and make room for more medical equipment. As we plan toward the year 2020, the Chico planning area is projected to grow by nearly 2 percent each year, for a total of at least 40,000 new residents. At that time, the baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, will represent the age segment of 56-74. People in this age segment require more health care than their younger counterparts. We are also living longer. As of 2005, life expectancy in the U.S. is 76 years for men and 86 years for women. As we consider the implications of a growing Chico area, health care leaders must also plan to ensure the right services are in the right place by the time the community needs them. As a community-governed, not-for-profit hospital, we are committed to assuring that we meet the needs of our community-today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
How much will the project cost?
Fully equipped, the Enloe Century Project is expected to cost $155 million.
How will Enloe fund the expansion?
Although the state requires seismic updates, it is not funding construction projects. This is up to the individual hospitals. Enloe is financing the $155 million project with savings, bonds, a fundraising campaign and the sale of our former Bruce Road vacant property. Absolutely no community or state tax hikes are involved. For more about funding the project, read about the Enloe Century Campaign.
How can I learn more about the progress of the construction?
Enloe publishes a monthly newsletter for neighbors. The Enloe Century Project Neighborhood Update is posted in a PDF format, available for the public to read. See an animation of how the campus will look after construction is complete, or view our slide show of photos showing construction progress.
How can I donate to the Enloe Century Project?
Opportunities to support the Enloe Century Project are plentiful. Your investment by a gift of cash, pledges up to five years in length, stock, real estate, insurance, other valued property, annuities, bequests and trusts are welcomed. In addition to greatly assisting the success of this important campaign, many gifts also involve tax advantages for donors and their families. For more information on the Enloe Century Campaign, you can contact Enloe Foundation at 530.332.4550.
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