Riverside Community Hospital Expansion Brings Major Upgrades to Riverside Campus

Riverside Community Hospital (RCH) is moving forward with a significant expansion that will add nearly 600 new parking spaces and hundreds of patient beds to address two of the hospital’s most pressing health care needs.

RCH received unanimous City Council approval May 20 to demolish remaining buildings along Brockton Avenue near 14th Street, enabling construction of a major expansion at the prominent intersection.

The project will add 593 parking spaces in a new five-level garage and 326 patient beds to serve the hospital's growing patient population. New facilities will include expanded imaging services, women’s health services, dialysis, intensive care, and medical-surgical departments, along with an upgraded emergency department entrance, according to the hospital's presentation to the City Council.

Construction activity is already underway at the visible corner site, with demolition work beginning on several structures, including a former auto repair garage. The expansion will transform the intersection while preserving the historic Riverside Community Players Theater, which will remain in place as a community landmark.

As the region's only Level I trauma center, Riverside Community Hospital treated nearly 118,000 emergency patientsand admitted more than 29,000 patients in 2024. The expansion addresses growing health care demand as Riverside County's population is projected to grow 2.4% through 2028, according to hospital data presented to the council.

RCH's $597 million operation employs nearly 3,000 people and contributes $515 million annually to the local economy, making it one of the region's largest employers and economic contributors. The facility serves patients from throughout Riverside County and the Inland Empire through its network of 85 referring hospitals.

The expansion project includes comprehensive site improvements with new roadways connecting the east and west sides of the campus, enhanced pedestrian access, and improved traffic flow around the medical complex.

City officials unanimously approved the demolition permits, reflecting strong support for the hospital's continued investment in the community. The facility has earned numerous national recognitions, including designation as one of America’s Top 100 Hospitals and Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals.

The new patient tower and parking structure represent one of the largest construction projects currently underway in Riverside, reflecting the hospital's commitment to meeting the health care needs of the growing Inland Empire region.

Construction is expected to continue over the coming year as the hospital works to expand capacity while maintaining its current high level of patient care and community service.