The four-level, 500,000 square foot hospital will be located near the main gate and will have an expected staff of more than 1,100.

“The new Naval Hospital is keeping on the cutting edge of technology for at least 50 years to come,” said Col. Nicholas F. Marano, commanding officer, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

The new hospital is funded under the Economic Recovery Act, created by President Obama. The $394 million contract is awarded to Clark/McCarthy, a joint venture by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest and is all a part of the base’s project to improve quality of life for its Marines and sailors.

“As you drive around the base you can still see buildings from the World War II era,” said Marano in his opening remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony. “Thankfully there are fewer and fewer every day, as they are being replaced with more efficient, state of the art structures, with quality of life in mind. The hospital plays a huge role in that improvement for our Marines and sailors.”

The services provided by the new hospital will include inpatient medical facilities, ancillary departments, emergency care, primary care, specialty care clinics, support spaces and facilities for non-ambulatory patients with stays in excess of 24 hours. It will also include a central utilities plant, a multi-level parking structure and surface parking. Site enhancements such as walking paths are also included in the construction project.

The guest speaker at the groundbreaking event was Vice Adm. Adam. M. Robinson Jr., surgeon general of the Navy and Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

“Navy medicine is Marine medicine,” said Robinson. “Wherever Marines go, there will be Navy."

Robinson explained to the guests how the new hospital would be centered more on patient care.

“Focusing on our warriors that come to our hospitals is the fundamental strength by which Navy medicine is conducted,” said Robinson.

The hospital is scheduled to be completed January 2014, and will be ready for use later that year.