ETC is proud to provide an efficient and economical method to develop and deliver small to medium-sized healthcare projects from concept to construction completion: Design-Build.

Design-build is an integrated project delivery process in which a single entity, the master builder, is accountable for both the design and construction. Today’s design-build process offers reassurance that the design and construction industry can deliver comprehensive and cost-effective services. This valued assurance – which demands full responsibility and accountability – can only be provided for small- to medium-sized healthcare projects by a single source: ETC.

Because the design parameters of a project are being developed along with the budgetary goals – with construction methodologies and budget conditions being weighed simultaneously – a project is more likely to be constructed than with a pure design approach. Also, the owner has greater access to the ETC project team as the project is being developed.

Instead of having multiple consultants and contractors, an owner has one entity to deal with: ETC. Design revisions, project feedback, budgeting, permitting, construction issues, change orders and billing can be routed directly through ETC. With ETC being the single point of contact, it allows a certain amount of flexibility for the owner. ETC can leverage that to the owner’s benefit by continually refining the program to maximize the value of the project.

ETC offers unmatched design-build services with distinct advantages to Healthcare Owners:

• Single point of coordination, responsibility and accountability for all Architectural, Structural and MEP Engineering & Construction through ETC’s in-house design and construction Services;

• Accurate budgeting from concept benchmark estimate, through design development, to final construction cost with line-item budget tracking;

• Eliminates layers of pass through costs for subcontracted work, since ETC performs a majority of the work with its tradesman;

• Greatly enhanced schedule control as ETC is in direct control of its tradesmen and the construction process, and;

• All of ETC’s tradesmen have been specially trained and are experienced in working in a healthcare environment where operations are ongoing. We focus our training in areas such as: infection control; OSHPD requirements; HIPAA; interim life safety measures; and OSHA.

• Masterplanning and feasibility studies:  ETC’s design professionals understand that even the smallest of projects can be an important piece of a long-range plan, or can have impacts on an organization’s cash flow and return on investment.  ETC can assist with creating and updating master plans, and work with financial analysts to create investment models.

• Programming: ETC recognizes the importance of identifying all of a project’s stakeholders at the beginning of the process.  Through interviews, observations, research, and consulting ETC assembles all of the project data at the very start of the project and presents a summary document for approval by the decision makers.  The more information contained, the better the initial and subsequent estimates, the more accurate and productive the design, and the fewer disruptions during the construction process due to late-term scope changes.

ETC’s design-build project delivery has consistently succeeded in providing owners across California with the highest quality final product within the cost and schedule parameters established at the conceptual stage. Whether it is replacing a door or performing a complex multi-phased project in a critical care space, ETC has the knowledge, resources, and capability to perform the work to the highest standards of quality.

By setting high standards to deliver the best possible value and quality to each healthcare project we undertake, ETC consistently delivers results that exceed client expectations. ETC’s staff and tradesmen only work in healthcare facilities, and have experience and training specific to working in that environment. Technical knowledge is not enough - site access, infection control, patient privacy, construction mitigation measures, and understanding how the departments operate is paramount to completing projects within schedule and budget.

Having successfully completed multi-phased projects in the most difficult areas of hospitals – the critical care spaces – we can guarantee owners that ETC has the experience and personnel to perform complicated healthcare construction projects. Our depth of experience and flexibility allows us to perform projects from a simple room conversion to a complete department renovation.

ETC Healthcare Construction Services:

• Design-Build • Construction Management • General Contracting • Tenant Improvement (TI) • Remodels, Renovations and Equipment upgrades • Negotiated Small Project Construction (T&M, cost plus, etc).

Plumbing Services: ETC is a licensed C-36 contractor and offers complete services, including: • Sewer Line Replacement • Line Freezing & Stopping • Medical Gas Installation • Hydronic Piping Services • Boiler & Chiller Replacement

Infection Control (IC): In an operating healthcare facility, IC measures are of the utmost importance during construction. ETC has professionally trained and certified IC personnel that will work with the facility to: implement the proper IC level based on the ICRA matrix; coordinate the boundaries of the IC barrier to facilitate ongoing hospital functions; complete the IC permits; construct and test the IC barrier; maintain the integrity of the IC barrier during construction; and properly clean, disinfect and deconstruct the barrier after receiving the proper clearances.

Mock-Up Services: Having the unique knowledge of healthcare construction, ETC understands that users have trouble visualizing how a design will appear after it is constructed, and that workflow and ergonomic issues always come up as the finishes are being installed. To that end, ETC has found success in providing space at our San Diego facility for constructing mock-ups that user groups can tour and actually perform mock procedures. This can occur during the conceptual stage, prior to construction, or at any point in between. Useful insights, ideas, and suggestions can be incorporated into the design, mitigating costly field change orders.

ETC Biotech Services:

ETC has a seasoned team of biotech professionals that have built-out over 4 million square feet of space including cGMP manufacturing facilities, heavy chemistry and biology laboratories, bio-safety level labs, class 100 clean rooms, and various pilot plants. ETC has the expertise to lead your project in a design-build format or provide design assistance with the client’s design consultants, depending on the client’s preferred approach. ETC has the right subcontractor teams to build small labs to large scale manufacturing facilities. With ETC’s expertise we can provide constructability review, on-going budget analysis and updates while keeping our client’s fiscal and project goal as our main focus.

ETC’s experienced team has successfully completed numerous cGMP manufacturing projects. ETC has a clean build SOP program to support validation documentation throughout the duration of the project. We can deliver cGMP projects both on-time and on-budget while standing by our commitment of excellence and service.

Our topnotch and extensive design/construction experience in the healthcare industry combined with our biotech construction expertise makes ETC the logical choice for your projects.


ETC has extensive SB1953 design and construction experience. (See case studies.) This has allowed us to interface and have in-depth discussions on SB1953 requirements with the legislators, policy influencers, and the authority that will ultimately enforce the regulations – OSHPD.

Since its passage in 1995, SB1953 has been amended by several Assembly Bills and Senate Bills in order to provide relief to the deadlines for those facilities that meet the revised requirements. In order for healthcare facility owners to make informed decisions about their overall campus-building program, it is important to have an understanding of the current legislation as well as future legislation that is being proposed.

Having provided budgets for over 30 hospital campuses on SB1953-required work, ETC has extensive cost consulting experience and can accurately estimate program costs based on our historical cost database and market conditions.

ETC can provide comprehensive code and cost consulting services so that you, the owner, can understand the best course of action to take in regard to the seismic safety required by law for your facilities and campuses.


ETC’s disaster preparedness company affiliate, Safe-T-Proof, has been a leader in non-structural seismic mitigation for over 17 years. Safe-T-Proof designed, developed, and use the only fastening systems approved by the State of California for specific applications in hospitals.


ETC’s state-of-the-art fleet of mobile earthquake simulators is used at healthcare facilities throughout California for experientially teaching hospital staff the critical nature of personal preparedness and learning about the SB1953 seismic retrofitting project taking place in their hospital.

The “Quake Cottages” – designed by Safe-T-Proof – have been featured on dozens of television and radio newscasts over the last 16 years including: ABC, CBS, NBC, KTTV, KTLA, KCOP, KRON, CNN, MSNBC, KIIS/FM with Rick Dees, the nationally-televised “Home and Family Show,” “Martin Short Show,” “Crook & Chase Show,” “The Today Show,” “Dateline NBC,” and KTLA News’ Earthquake Special.

Construction Services

SB1953 Consulting & Construction

Seismic Mitigation

Mobile Earthquake Simulators

“They are a great group of professionals, and their customer service is fantastic. They always take into account how their work affects the hospital staff as well as the patients that are here. They have gone above and beyond expectations in meeting my customers’ needs. Our clinical directors and staff have never been more complementary of any contracting service.”

Steve Barnum
Director of Plant Operations
San Ramon Regional Medical Center