BSD Builders Navigates Heavy Infrastructure into Scripps Mercy Hillcrest

The installation of two Capstone C1000 microturbines provides 2 megawatts of supplemental power, a critical upgrade for the San Diego hospital. Beyond the sheer weight of the units—each clocking in at 47,000 pounds—the project required custom structural engineering to safely negotiate the steep incline behind the facility’s central energy plant. Jeff Blair, CEO of BSD Builders, noted that the site’s severe constraints demanded unconventional logistical solutions to move the equipment into place.

The infrastructure serves as the foundation for a high-efficiency cogeneration system. Future additions include heat recovery modules designed to capture waste heat for the hospital’s heating and hot water needs. According to Ryan Peña, project manager for Scripps Health, the system’s island mode capability offers vital redundancy. If external grid power fails during a natural disaster, the hospital will maintain its own electricity production. With the heavy machinery secured on its pads, the team is now focused on final mechanical and electrical integrations, with full operational testing scheduled for completion by the end of the year.