UCSF Medical Sciences Building
Two important seismic projects that will help safeguard the lives of UCSF patients and staff will soon begin at the Parnassus Heights campus.
Although some of this work will be noisy, UCSF is employing sound-dampening measures to minimize impact on neighbors and the campus community.
The two projects were postponed since the initial campus announcement, but now are underway on the Parnassus campus. They are as follows:
The Medical Sciences Building (MSB) project will upgrade the western and southern wings of the building to make it seismically stronger. UCSF also will upgrade the heating and ventilation systems and install an air conditioning system in the MSB.
The hospital seismic safety project involves separating Moffitt Hospital from the MSB-decoupling these structures will make each of them stronger. This work is mandated by Senate Bill 1953, which sets stringent seismic standards for California hospitals.
Medical Sciences Building Project
Built in 1954, MSB is located at 513 Parnassus Ave. and houses numerous labs and administrative offices, but lacks systems required for current technology. For example, computer and research equipment give off heat and raise the building temperature to uncomfortable levels. To rectify this problem, UCSF will install an air conditioning system and clean the air-ventilation ducts.
UCSF will also undertake seismic work to make the building stronger and more flexible in the event of an earthquake. The building is L-shaped and its rigidity may cause greater damage during a seismic event. To make the building more flexible, UCSF must modify an exterior wall, expand some window openings and install exhaust grills for air movement.
All of this work will occur within the confines of Saunders Court, which will buffer the sound so that neighborhood residents should be minimally affected. The work will involve noisy drilling and sawing, but noise tests indicate that much of this noise will be absorbed by the School of Nursing building.
To minimize disruption during regular business hours, UCSF will maintain a schedule of work between 5 and 10 p.m., Monday through Friday.
UCSF expects work on the MSB to start in April 2007 and be completed by October 2008.
Truck deliveries for this project will occur in the evening from 5 to 10 p.m. The delivery trucks will use Koret Way (located near the southern end of the campus) and will enter the campus though 5th Avenue and Kirkham Street. These deliveries will be minimal.
Hospital Seismic Safety Project
As indicated above, work on this project is mandated by state law, which stipulates that hospitals throughout California must meet stringent seismic requirements to ensure the safety of patients and staff. To comply with this law, UCSF must decouple the Moffitt Hospital Building from the MSB. These buildings are 15 stories high and are joined at each level.
To decouple the buildings, UCSF will need to separate the structures at every level by using a concrete saw to create an opening for installing new seismic joints. After the structures are separated and the joints installed, each of the buildings will be able to move independently in the event of an earthquake. This flexibility will allow the buildings to better withstand a temblor, thereby greatly reducing damage.
The noisiest phase of the project will involve separating the buildings using concrete saws. UCSF will employ sound-dampening measures so that neighbors and the campus community are not unduly impacted.
Because this work will occur near patient care areas, such as the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, UCSF must phase the work carefully. As with the MSB project, to minimize disruption during regular business hours, UCSF is scheduling the decoupling work between 5 and 10 p.m., Monday through Friday. Should weekend work be necessary, UCSF will notify the campus community and neighbors in advance.
The preparatory work on this project began in 2006. The decoupling work will begin in March 2007 and may continue through October 2008.
Those who have any general questions or concerns about these two projects may contact Orlando Elizondo, associate director of UCSF Community & Governmental Relations, at 415/476-3206 or
[email protected].
Related Links:
Two Major Seismic Projects to Begin at Parnassus Campus
