UCSF Parnassus Heights Construction Update Moves from Quarterly to Monthly
UCSF Real Estate will begin sharing Parnassus Heights construction updates monthly, replacing the current quarterly schedule. Starting April 2025, updates will be sent to the Parnassus Heights community on the Monday following the first of each month and will be posted online.
UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital (HDH)
Tower crane on the HDH project site near Parnassus Avenue.
To serve the city with world-class care for the next century, UCSF is constructing the UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital (HDH).
The 15-story hospital at the Parnassus Heights campus is being constructed on the former Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital (LPPH) site through 2029, with the new hospital expected to open in 2030.
Second Tower Crane Installation Starting Soon
Installation of a second tower crane is expected to start on the south side of the UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital (HDH) site from late April to early May 2025. The 262-foot-tall tower crane will be adjacent to the existing hospital. More details will be communicated to the Parnassus Heights campus once they are finalized.
The first tower crane, standing at 279 feet, was installed last month near Parnassus Avenue on the HDH site over two weekends.
During non-operating times, both cranes' jibs (boom extensions) will function in “weathervane” mode, allowing the cranes to rotate freely to minimize wind and weather-related impacts on the cranes. While the HDH cranes are in weathervane mode, the 279-foot crane will lift to 472 feet; and the 262-foot crane will lift to 435 feet.
Dates and details are subject to change, including crane installation dates may be rescheduled because of weather.
Impacts and Mitigation
Rendering of 2 Tower Cranes on HDH Site | Cranes in Weathervane Mode
Early Morning Concrete Pours for HDH Foundation Work
As the HDH project transitions to constructing the building's foundation, several concrete pours will be scheduled in the early hours between 1 - 7 a.m. beginning in late April through July 2025.
Due to the size of the foundation elements, and the need to ensure structural integrity of the concrete by maintaining lower temperatures, the pours will take place during off-peak hours to take advantage of cooler overnight temperatures. This strategy prevents micro-cracking of the concrete foundation due to heat build-up while the concrete is setting.
There will be approximately (17) concrete pours that will each require approximately 20 to 50 trucks with three to five trucks arriving at a time. The duration of each concrete pour will last roughly 8 hours.
Upon arrival, trucks will be positioned within the job site fence line off Parnassus Avenue for about 15 minutes as concrete is discharged. Trucks may stage in the center lane of Parnassus Avenue at the project frontage. The trucks will need to remain running to continue mixing concrete per required construction standards.
Impacts and Mitigations
Construction on Southeast Parnassus Avenue for HDH
Construction is underway through November 2026 on the southeast portion of campus at Parnassus Avenue and Medical Center Way in support of the HDH project. Activities include the demolition of a building that stores liquid materials, the construction of a new retaining wall behind the structure, and the installation of a permanent electrical distribution center that will serve the new and existing hospitals.
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Map of Construction Area | Project Phases | Dates
UCSF Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building
Construction is underway at Parnassus Heights for the UCSF Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building (BRAB), a state-of-the-art building that will create a vital collaborative space that drives innovations in scientific research and education. BRAB will house the UCSF School of Nursing and research programs for cancer, microbiology, diabetes, immunology, and cell biology.
Koret Way Closed with Intermittent Pedestrian Access
As the BRAB project begins structural steel delivery and mobilization, the activities will close Koret Way with intermittent pedestrian access throughout the day, starting April 7, 2025, through September 2025.
Steel delivery will occur on Koret Way for the BRAB tower crane to then stage and install the structural steel for the building. As a safety precaution during steel delivery and mobilization, pedestrian access will be intermittently available on Koret Way.
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Map of Construction Area | Koret Way Closure Area | Pedestrian Routes
Koret Way Closure and Pedestrian Access Schedule for April 7, 2025 through September 2025
Parnassus Central Campus Site Improvements
UCSF is embarking on an important endeavor to create a welcoming space that will lead to the “heart of campus” at Parnassus Heights. The Parnassus Central Campus Site Improvements (PCCSI) program will provide extensive site improvements in the central core of the Parnassus Heights campus, where the School of Nursing building currently exists.
View the Latest Renderings of the Campus Core
As the PCCSI project continues finalizing the design, the team shared some of the latest project renderings to keep the UCSF community updated on the progress.
PCCSI will transform the Parnassus Heights campus by significantly expanding the campus core open space. The design prioritizes accessible circulation and creates welcoming and healing spaces.
View the Latest PCCSI Renderings | April 2025
Construction in Millberry Union for SON Building Relocations
Construction activity is underway in Millberry Union (MU) through May 30, 2025, to support the further decanting of the School of Nursing building. The SON building will be demolished starting in 2025 as part of the PCCSI project, which will revitalize the central core of the Parnassus Heights campus.
Now - April 30, 2025: A temporary wall will be built on the west side of MU in front of a new entrance to room 135 as work progresses to replace the double doors and complete the required fire barriers. This renovation work is for the relocation of Ladle & Leaf from the School of Nursing building.
April 11 - May 30, 2025: Construction will begin on the east side on level 2 of MU to relocate Facilities Services offices from the School of Nursing building. This work will include moving equipment and furnishings, installing a new electrical panel, and adding a new badge reader.
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Construction Areas in Millberry Union | Dates
Impacts for Koret Way Path, South of SON Building
Utility work is scheduled for Monday, April 7, through May 2, 2025, to install an electrical duct bank along the Koret Way path, south of the School of Nursing building and west of Health Sciences West. Work that is needed includes pavement removal, trenching, conduit installation, and installing connections.
Impacts and Mitigations
Map of Pedestrian Access Around PCCSI Temporary Work Zone | April 7 through May 2, 2025
Other Construction Updates
- HSIR Improvements Program: Latest Monthly Update | UCSF MyAccess Required
- 2025 UCSF Real Estate Construction Impact Messages | UCSF MyAccess Required
Questions and Comments About This Update | [email protected]