King County and UW Medicine ushered in the next major phase of its long-planned campus expansion for Harborview Medical Center, with the announcement of the Harborview Bond Program’s design-build team, Mortenson and Perkins & Will. 

Industry-leading design firm and construction powerhouse Mortenson and Perkins & Will were awarded the $1.74 billion Harborview Bond contract after an extensive search for “the right combination of architectural and construction expertise for large medical centers,” said Tony Wright, Director of Harborview Construction and Infrastructure for King County. 

In November 2020, King County voters overwhelmingly approved funding for the Harborview Bond Program, which will allow for the realization of a new multi-story inpatient medical tower, improvements to the mission-driven hospital’s infrastructure and renovations to essential hospital services and spaces in older parts of the campus.  

As an essential institution, Harborview provides healthcare for the most vulnerable residents of King County, while also being the provider of choice for the five-state region that includes Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).  

"We are thrilled to welcome this seasoned and thoughtful design-build team on board, and we cannot wait to see the new tower take shape under this partnership,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “Harborview Medical Center is an irreplaceable asset to King County and communities across the state. Through this work, we are ensuring that our most vulnerable residents continue to receive world-class care in modern, accessible, and sustainable facilities.” 

“The Bond Program will support our staff and providers as we adapt and evolve to meet the high demands of a growing patient population,” said Harborview CEO Sommer Kleweno Walley. “Most importantly, it is an essential part of ensuring we can keep advancing in how we deliver our mission to care for all patients, no matter their circumstances." 

As a King County-owned site, Harborview safety improvements and expansions generally occur through voter-approved financing every 15 to 20 years. The Bond Program kicks off its design-build project at a particularly important moment for Harborview, the only level 1 Adult & Pediatric trauma and Burn Center in the WWAMI region. 

As a King County-owned site, Harborview safety improvements and expansions generally occur through voter-approved financing every 15 to 20 years. The Bond Program kicks off its design-build project at a particularly important moment for Harborview, the only level 1 Adult & Pediatric trauma and Burn Center in the WWAMI region. 

Last year, with just 540 beds, Harborview had over 16,000 inpatient admissions. The hospital is a national leader in service lines like neurosciences, spine care and orthopedics, as well as the designated emergency site in the event of a major disaster like an earthquake. 

In close collaboration with King County and UW Medicine leadership, the design-build team will help move forward a plan that pulls together visual, logistical and structural elements in a series of phases for not only the new medical tower, but also a much-needed increase in single patient rooms and expansion of its always-busy emergency department. 

"Mortenson and Perkins & Will are honored to partner with King County and Harborview Medical Center on this transformative project. We’re excited to bring our deep expertise in healthcare design and construction to support Harborview’s mission. Together, we’re creating a modernized healthcare environment that expands access, enhances care, and strengthens Harborview’s role as a regional trauma leader. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to investing in community well-being, improving patient experience, and ensuring high-quality care for the most vulnerable," said a spokesperson for the design-build team. 

Wright and Kleweno Walley said the plans should put them in good shape to ideally break ground on the new tower site in 2027/2028. 

Once construction begins, the hospital will remain 100 percent operable during every phase of the build. Wright and Kleweno Walley added that this will be one of many updates to come as the design-build process gets underway.