UC Davis Health's $3.7 Billion California Tower Reaches Major Construction Milestone

UC Davis Health celebrated a significant construction achievement on February 6 as its ambitious 14-story California Tower reached a major milestone with its official topping out ceremony, marking the completion of the building's primary steel structure.

Project contractor McCarthy Building Companies Inc. used a tower crane to position the final steel beam during the ceremony at the Sacramento campus located at 45th and X streets. Following construction tradition, ceremony attendees signed the beam before it was lifted into place—a practice believed to bring good fortune and commemorate the structural completion.

"A topping out is a chance for us to pause and recognize how far we've come," said Mike Condrin, interim chief executive officer for UC Davis Health. "There's still work ahead, but today shows our vision is becoming real."

The $3.7 billion California Tower represents the final component of UC Davis Health's ambitious Vision 2030 campus expansion plan. Upon completion in 2030, the project will dramatically transform the Sacramento campus, adding approximately 1 million square feet of space and expanding the facility from 3.6 million to more than 7 million square feet.

The comprehensive facility will feature a 14-story hospital tower and five-story pavilion, housing new operating rooms, an advanced imaging center, and expanded pharmacy and burn care facilities. The addition of approximately 334 inpatient beds is designed to alleviate pressure on the emergency department while addressing the growing healthcare demand throughout the region.

UC Davis Chancellor Gary May, Vice Chancellor of Human Health Sciences Mark Rosenblatt, and other institutional leaders joined project partners and community representatives for the ceremonial event. "Whether it's cutting the ribbon at Aggie Square or celebrating the opening of the 48X complex, UC Davis is shaping the skyline in Sacramento and building the future of health care in our region," May remarked.

Project officials also celebrated an impressive safety milestone, reporting zero safety incidents since construction began in 2024. "This reminds us of what is possible when preparation meets purpose, and when teams come together to perform at the highest level," said Jill Tomczyk, executive director of capital projects.