<P> The six original actors' contracts expired after season eight, but in May 2012, Pompeo, Oh, Dempsey, Chambers, Wilson, and Pickens renewed their contracts with the show for another two years . At the conclusion of the eighth season, Leigh's character departed from the show at Leigh's request, and with Rhimes' agreement . Raver's character was also written out of the show during the season eight finale, and Rhimes stated that Raver was offered a contract renewal, but declined . In July 2012, Dane confirmed that he was departing the show to pursue other projects; he made his final appearances in the first two episodes of the ninth season . With the start of season 10, Camilla Luddington, Jerrika Hinton, Gaius Charles & Tessa Ferrer were introduced to the show as series regulars . They were first introduced to the show in season 9 as new interns . On August 13, 2013, Oh announced that the show's tenth season would be her final season . In March 2014 it was announced that Isaiah Washington, who portrayed Preston Burke in the first three seasons of the show, would make a guest appearance to coincide with the departure of series regular Sandra Oh, his former on - screen love interest . As of March 25, 2014, both Charles and Ferrer's contracts were not renewed for season 11 . On May 2, 2014 it was announced that, in addition to Pompeo and Dempsey, all original remaining cast members--aside from Sandra Oh--signed two year deals, extending their contracts through seasons 11 and 12 . Despite joining the series in its second season, Sara Ramirez is on the same negotiation schedule as the first - season cast and has also inked a new two - year deal . </P> <P> Rhimes considered setting the medical drama in her hometown, Chicago, but eventually decided to go with Seattle, to distinguish Grey's Anatomy from the Chicago--based ER . </P> <P> Fisher Plaza, which is the headquarters building of the former Fisher Communications (since merged into Sinclair Broadcasting Group) and SBG's ABC affiliated KOMO radio and television stations in Seattle, is used for some exterior shots of Grey - Sloan Memorial Hospital . In particular, air ambulances land on the KOMO - TV newscopter's helipad . This suggests the hospital is close to the Space Needle (which is directly across the street from Fisher Plaza), the Seattle Monorail, and other local landmarks . However, the hospital used for most other exterior and a few interior shots is not in Seattle; these scenes are shot at the VA Sepulveda Ambulatory Care Center in North Hills, California . The exterior of Meredith Grey's house, also known as the Intern House, is real . In the show, the address of Grey's home is 613 Harper Lane, but in real life there is no such place . The actual home is located at 303 W. Comstock St., Seattle, Washington . Most scenes are taped at Prospect Studios in Los Feliz, just east of Hollywood, where the Grey's Anatomy set occupies six sound stages . Some outside scenes are shot at the Warren G. Magnuson Park in Seattle . Several props used are working medical equipment, including the MRI machine . When asked about operating room scenes, Sarah Drew offered this: </P> <P> We work with Bovine organs, which is cow's organs . The smell is repulsive and makes us all gag . And we use an actual soldering tool to solder the organs . It smells like burning flesh . There's also a lot of silicone and blood matter, red jello mixed with blood and chicken fat . It's pretty gross . </P>

Where is the hospital used in grey's anatomy