Ambulatory Care Center Replacement

SS&A, as part of a Joint Venture, provided design services for the replacement Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, delivering a modern healthcare facility that supports the medical readiness of Marine Corps recruits and active-duty personnel. Executed for NAVFAC Southwest, the project represents a significant investment in consolidated, mission-ready medical infrastructure.

The new ACC is a 100,526-GSF, multi-story facility designed to bring a wide range of medical and dental services into a single, highly efficient complex. Programmed spaces include recruit processing and health services, acute care, staff health, mental health, physical therapy, optometry, audiology, pharmacy, laboratory, radiology, administrative functions, logistics, and a full-service dental clinic. The site design integrates parking, ambulance access and staging, utility yards, emergency power, and landscape improvements that connect the facility seamlessly to the surrounding Depot.

Design solutions were developed across all architectural and engineering disciplines, resulting in a fully coordinated facility that balances operational efficiency, patient privacy, and security. The building is organized around a central “medical mall” concept that streamlines recruit processing and enables an intuitive flow through key clinical functions. Separate circulation paths for recruits, staff, and logistics enhance safety and day-to-day operations.

The project addressed several unique site and regional challenges, including seismic design requirements for Southern California, poor soil conditions requiring ground improvement, and acoustic considerations related to proximity to San Diego International Airport. Architecturally, the exterior reflects Spanish Contemporary forms and materials, reinforcing the historic character of the Depot while meeting modern performance expectations.

High-performance and sustainable design strategies were incorporated throughout the facility. Energy-efficient systems and building measures were identified through energy modeling to reduce energy use by nearly 30 percent compared to baseline standards, delivering long-term operational savings while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

With an estimated construction cost of $97 million and a total project value of $108 million, the replacement ACC at MCRD San Diego stands as a resilient, sustainable, and patient-centered healthcare facility—purpose-built to support the evolving medical needs of the Marine Corps well into the future.

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