The tower, which includes patient beds, a pharmacy, a cafeteria and a laboratory, is McCarthy's fourth major project for Huntington Memorial, which is at 100 W. California Blvd. in Pasadena. HDR Inc. of Pasadena, CA. designed the tower.

Mynsberge says that the West Tower is the final phase of a rebuilding plan that the hospital outlined in 1986. The six-story West Tower is composed of: 128 private patient care rooms, including 32 acute care beds; a pharmacy; a cafeteria; and an expanded clinical laboratory.

In addition to the West Tower, McCarthy completed structural upgrades on the existing lobby, patient bridge and pedestrian tunnel in compliance with Senate Bill 1953, which requires seismic upgrades for all acute care facilities.McCarthy faced constant challenges relating to building on a live project site because of the project's location adjacent to an existing lobby building.

McCarthy has worked on the hospital's building program for nearly 20 years, completing a number of projects. Among these were a 125,000-sf, four-story vertical patient tower expansion and heliport, completed in November 1998; the remodel and renovation of the 53,500-sf blood donor center, psychiatric facility and sleep lab, completed in October 1992; and a 165,000-sf replacement hospital and 750-space parking garage, completed in December 1990.