Mission Hospital Laguna Beach soon will be able to better withstand shaking from an earthquake.
The hospital at 31872 S. Coast Hwy., part of the St. Joseph Health system, is embarking on a $15-million seismic retrofit project, according to a news release.
The project will be done in seven phases in a two-year period — upon completion the hospital will meet the state's seismic medical building requirements through 2030, the release said.
Workers have begun construction improvements, which will impact the following units: behavioral health, intensive care, in-patient chemical dependency and medical/surgical, according to Michael Beck, the hospital's vice president of operations.
Crews will work on three to four rooms at a time to reduce the impact to patients and staff.
Work includes structural upgrades to columns and beams, such as creating more flexible steel and adding double-pane windows.
"In an earthquake, the joint can shake without coming apart," said Beck.