The Health Sciences Instruction and Research (HSIR) Improvements Program, a series of projects to upgrade the Health Sciences East (HSE) and Health Sciences West (HSW) towers at Parnassus Heights, has reached substantial completion, marking a major milestone for the Campus Design & Construction team at UCSF Real Estate, its partners, and the research community.
Construction for the project was completed in July 2025, with delivery of seismic, exterior, and life safety upgrades. By strengthening the largest research facility in the University of California (UC) system, these improvements will safeguard critical discoveries for decades to come.
Why It Matters to UCSF
The HSIR Towers are UCSF’s most research-intensive facilities across the UC system. The improvements completed include:
- HSIR Exterior Ledge Repairs - Full repair and recoating of the exterior concrete ledges.
- HSIR Life Safety Improvements – Installation of fire sprinklers in previously non-sprinklered areas, correcting fire sprinkler pipe pressure deficiencies, adding sprinkler heads to chemical fume hoods, and extending the existing standpipes on the rooftops for fire department access.
- HSIR Seismic Improvements – Improving the seismic performance rating of HSW and HSE by making whole-building structure improvements, including installing seismic dampers, column splicing at level 5 of both towers, and upgrading the seismic joints and utility restraints.
Seismic performance upgrades were vital to protecting irreplaceable research and ensuring continuity of operations in the event of an earthquake.
These improvements also expand the ability of the university to increase maximum allowable chemical quantities, which opens the door for more research at UCSF, said Jason Felipe, Project Manager, another member of the project team.
Upgrades included full fire sprinkler coverage, flexible power lines between buildings, repair of failing concrete ledges and application of new waterproofing, the installation of eight seismic dampers, and provisions for consolidating chemical storage, all designed to keep the towers safe and operational.
A Unique Challenge
Launched in 2019 and moving into construction in the fall of 2022 through July 2025, the HSIR program faced extraordinary challenges. Construction occurred while the towers remained fully occupied with critical research underway — requiring careful phasing, creative scheduling, and constant communication to minimize disruption for hundreds of researchers and staff.
“Keeping a building with active research operational while tackling noisy, messy, and technically complex work was a constant balancing act,” said Julie Gallivan, Senior Project Manager on the CD&C team, who led the project. To help communicate the work and impacts, the team spearheaded efforts to launch a monthly internal newsletter for the HSE and HSW tower occupants.
The project was also unique in that it was bid and launched remotely during the pandemic, with teams building rapport virtually before transitioning to onsite collaboration. Partnering sessions introduced in 2023 helped strengthen teamwork across contractors, design professionals, and UCSF staff.
“Regular check-ins and in-person partnering sessions were essential for building trust and ensuring progress, said Julie.
Lessons Learned
The team credits close coordination with researchers, quarterly town halls, and creative scheduling — including night shifts — for keeping the project on track. “Night work alone saved us a year or two on the schedule,” Jason said. The team also adapted shrink-wrap phasing to reduce disruption, while extensive logistical support from UCSF colleagues ensured safe crane operations and coordination with nearby projects.
A Team Effort
The improvements program brought together an extensive team of architects, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers, abatement specialists, hazardous material consultants, waterproofing engineers, and trades across every discipline. Facilities Services played a key role, with Chief Engineer Joe Plascencia dedicated full-time to the project. Also, the team successfully negotiated swing space with the support of UCSF Space Committees to support project logistics.
Looking Ahead
For the entire project team, the HSIR Improvements Program is a testament to UCSF’s ability to deliver complex upgrades in challenging circumstances.
“Despite very minor setbacks, our team was collaborative, positive, and committed to moving this project forward,” said Jason.
With its seismic, safety, and infrastructure improvements complete, HSIR is now better positioned than ever to support the groundbreaking research that defines UCSF. And with additional modernization projects already underway and planned, the towers will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the next generation of researchers.