This spring, construction is ramping up on the Parnassus Heights campus as three major projects start to transform the campus with state-of-the-art facilities. These projects include a new hospital, a new research and academic building, and improvements to the existing Health Sciences Instruction and Research (HSIR) east and west towers. From demolishing UC Hall, to reducing parking in Moffitt Circle – the Parnassus Heights campus is going to be a bustling center like never before.
This quarterly update shares what you need to know about major construction impacts from these projects through spring 2023. Project details are subject to change.
A summer update will be available in June 2023.
New Hospital at Parnassus Heights (NHPH)
Limited Moffitt Circle Parking
Beginning early May through November 2023, construction will begin for a new emergency oxygen supply connection, needed to support the new and current hospitals. This construction work will limit parking to patient drop-off and pickup only at the hospital’s main entrance, Moffitt Circle, at 505 Parnassus Ave.
During construction, UCSF ambassadors will staff the hospital’s main entrance to assist patients and visitors and will offer wheelchair assistance if needed. Hospital deliveries will be directed to park in a new white loading zone west of Moffitt Circle.
Other Work Underway for the Project
Emergency Department (ED) Parking Lot: Construction has started in the Emergency Department ambulance parking lot to relocate utilities to support the new and existing hospitals. A parking attendant will staff the ED parking lot to assist with vehicular and pedestrian traffic flow. Private vehicle parking will be limited to 15 minutes for patient drop-off and pickup only. This work will be ongoing through early 2024.
Construction Hours
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday
What You Can Expect
- Plan for high traffic along Parnassus Avenue due to reduced parking in Moffitt Circle.
- Moffitt Circle will be limited to patient pickup and drop-off only.
- UCSF ambassadors will assist with patient pickup and drop-off in Moffitt Circle.
- Hospital deliveries will be directed to park in white zone west of Moffitt Circle.
- Private vehicle parking in the ED will be limited to patient drop-off and pickup only.
- Pedestrians will be routed through a protected pathway
Why This Work Is Important
To serve the city with world-class care for the next century, UCSF is constructing a 15-story hospital on the Parnassus Heights campus on the current Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics (LPPHC) site. Construction of this new hospital will continue through 2029, with the new hospital opening in 2030.
Beginning February 2022 through April 2027, 20 Site Make Ready (SMR) and 12 Hospital Make Ready (HMR) major projects are required to prepare for demolition of LPPHC and construction of the new hospital building at Parnassus Heights. We are communicating impacts of this work broadly to UCSF faculty, staff, learners, patients and visitors, and the community.
The new hospital is part of the Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan.
Expected Project Completion Date
2030
Project Contact
[email protected] or 415-476-6577
Parnassus Research and Academic Building (PRAB)
Demolishing UC Hall
Demolition will begin ramping up to tear down UC Hall, a seven-floor brick building along the south side of Parnassus Avenue. The building is located next to the Clinical Sciences Building, and near the School of Nursing, Koret Vision Research Laboratory, and the Dental Center.
Through early June, demolition of the building’s bricks will occur. After removing the bricks, demolition will begin to remove the structure’s concrete frame, which will be performed behind a debris curtain from west to east. This work will occur from June through early 2024. Excavators with concrete shear attachments will be used for the demolition to limit noise.
In April, construction closed some walkways to install fencing for the site. The closures included a pedestrian path (the spine) behind UC Hall that connects to the Clinical Sciences Building and the School of Nursing, and a stairway on Koret Way. Further access changes will be implemented south of the Clinical Sciences Building as workers create a new egress stair.
Other Work Underway for the Project
- Relocating utilities: Work in multiple areas on campus will be needed to relocate fiber, power, steam, fire water and domestic water. Most of the work will be completed from April to May, with some work for relocating power extending into July.
- Pedestrian reroute on Parnassus Avenue: Pedestrians will be rerouted to the northside of Parnassus Avenue between Third and Fourth Avenues for the duration of the UC Hall demolition.
- Parking temporarily reduced on Koret Way: Some UCSF parking on Koret Way will be temporarily closed for utility work.
- See map for details.
Construction Hours
- 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday
- 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. for noisy work
What You Can Expect
- Saw cutting and breaking out of asphalt and concrete, concrete drilling
- Engine noises from trucks and equipment (idling of trucks will be limited to 5 minutes)
- Pedestrians reroutes and new construction fencing
- Flaggers for vehicle and pedestrian traffic, signs, and traffic control for vehicle routing
Why This Work Is Important
This work will support the construction of a new state-of-the-art Parnassus Research and Academic Building that will provide a new home for the School of Nursing, an expanded education space, and space for multiple health and science disciplines. The new building will encourage collaboration and support UCSF staying at the cutting edge of discovery, learning and care. The building also will serve as temporary spaces for research and academic groups as the campus undergoes several major improvements for the Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan through 2030.
Expected Project Completion Date
2027
Project Contact
Health Sciences Instruction and Research (HSIR) Improvement Program
More Scaffolding and Shrink Wrap Going Up
This spring, additional scaffolding and shrink wrap will be added to sections of the Health Sciences Instruction and Research (HSIR) complex for an exterior repairs project, one of three major improvement projects running concurrently in the two towers.
Seismic improvements and life safety updates also are under construction in the towers, both are expected to be complete in fall 2024. Exterior repairs are expected to be complete in early 2025. The towers will remain occupied and operational during the work.
The HSIR complex is made up of two, 16-floor towers with an elevator and corridor that connects the towers, known as Health Sciences East (HSE) and Health Sciences West (HSW). About 90% of the building includes labs and research space. Some scaffolding and shrink wrap are currently on sections of the towers for construction.
In April, workers started adding scaffolding to HSW, and shrink wrap will be added to the east side of HSW, which will stay up for about a year. In June, scaffolding will be added to the west side of HSE. The back of HSE currently has scaffolding and shrink wrap, which is expected to remain up through spring 2024. This graphic shows the shrink wrap phasing for the towers.
Other Work Underway for the Project
- Parts of Saunders Court will continue to be closed through early 2025 for construction layout for the HSIR projects. Some sections will continue to remain open for the UCSF community to use.
Construction Hours
- 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for interior and exterior work
- 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. Monday through Friday for interior fire sprinkler work
What You Can Expect
- Some noise during construction hours near construction activity
- Some windows blocked, sealed or have window protection added for safety and because of scaffolding and/or shrink wrap at impacted areas
- Scheduled utility shutdowns, which will be coordinated with building occupants
- Fenced in area of Saunders Court to be closed for construction laydown
Why This Work Is Important
The exterior repairs will improve the building’s safety; the seismic project will make the building safer for its occupants in the event of an earthquake and will better protect UCSF labs and experiments; the life safety project will provide a fully sprinklered building upon completion. Overall, this program will make building improvements so that our learners and employees can support the UCSF mission of advancing health worldwide.
Expected Project Completion Date
- Late 2024 for life safety and seismic projects
- Early 2025 for exterior repairs
Project Contact