UC Davis Health celebrated a significant milestone Wednesday with the close-in ceremony of the 48X Complex, marking the completion of the four-story building's external and structural construction. A state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center, the 48X Complex promises to redefine patient care and contribute to UC Davis Health's vision for the future of health care.

Members of UC Davis Health’s leadership and the design-build team of DPR Construction and SmithGroup gathered to witness the event – the placement of the final structural wall panel on the 268,228-square-foot building. But first, the attendees inscribed their signatures on the panel, which was covered in yellow wrap and adorned by a large, blue bow. Shortly after 10 a.m., the panel was hoisted by a red crane to its final destination on the second floor.

With the panels in place, work will now commence to install the building’s interior features.

The building is a crucial component of UC Davis Health's growth strategy to better serve patients in and around Sacramento with high-quality care.

Upon its expected opening in July 2025, the 48X Complex will feature 14 operating rooms; 59 pre- and post-operative recovery bays; 14 single-occupant, 23-hour recovery rooms; 96 clinical exam rooms and 19 clinical treatment rooms.

The building, located at the corner of 48^th and X streets, will also house clinical support areas, a pharmacy, imaging facilities, physical therapy services and administrative support spaces for patient education and assistance.

“At 268,000-square-feet, this new facility will be one of the largest outpatient surgical centers in the U.S., in terms of the number of operating rooms and procedure rooms,” said David Lubarsky, vice chancellor for human health sciences and CEO for UC Davis Health. “Today, we are one step closer to a major expansion of our human-centered care for UC Davis Health as reflected in this latest state-of-the-art facility for our patients and expert surgeons. We’re embracing the move to a more modern operating platform that emphasizes the convenience of ambulatory surgical procedures while also avoiding unnecessary hospital stays for patients. Once it opens, this facility will make UC Davis Health a national leader in ambulatory surgical capabilities.”

The complex will help address the shortage of ambulatory operating room capacity at the medical center just down the street.

"The addition of this state-of-the-art outpatient surgery center in Sacramento represents a transformative shift in our clinical approach, enabling personalized, patient-oriented, scheduled care to meet regional needs and enhancing our world-class care," said Diana Farmer, chair of the Department of Surgery.

Aside from enhancing patient care, the 48X Complex represents a step forward in UC Davis Health's commitment to sustainability. The facility is designed to exceed UC Sustainable Practices Policy energy efficiency goals and will be LEED Certified, reflecting its focus on healthy, highly efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings.