Construction of the Eccles Critical Care Pavilion in 2003 marked the first expansion for University Hospital in more than 20 years. The addition includes 26 new surgical ICU beds, 6 operating rooms, new Emergency Department, and supporting facilities. Seismic resilience was paramount due to its location near the Wasatch Fault on the University of Utah campus. Using IBC 2000 provisions for an essential facility, it is designed with advanced eccentrically braced frame (EBF) technology to achieve ductility and story drift control for earthquake protection. Underpinning of the existing hospital was necessary. The addition was designed to accommodate two future levels of vertical expansion. The West Pavilion is the companion wing to the Eccles Critical Care Pavilion.

The 2009 expansion included a new 6-story patient wing, 2-level expansion to the Eccles Critical Care Pavilion, and a vertical expansion of the existing parking structure. Some remodeling of the existing facility was also required. The 4-story helipad parking structure adds 250 parking spaces and is critical to the hospital's fleet of four helicopters and 2 fixed-wing aircraft, which serve a 5-state region—the largest geographic region of any hospital-based program in the country.