Serving San Francisco
We take pride in our longstanding partnership with the city, having served the community through every major public health crisis since the 1906 earthquake. Community input informed initiatives that are creating new jobs, housing, neighborhood open spaces, and more, all part of the Parnassus Heights Initiative, our holistic vision for a revitalized campus. At every step, we’re working with San Francisco, for San Francisco.
Experience Parnassus: In March 2022, attendees explored the new UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital through the “Experience Parnassus” exhibit featuring an immersive 3-dimensional virtual reality experience at the Faculty Alumni House at Parnassus Avenue. Photo by Barbara Ries
AIDS Walk: Faculty, staff, and community members proudly support the San Francisco AIDS Walk. UCSF is a longtime partner and has been actively involved with the event since its inception in 1987.
New Greenery Around Parnassus: UCSF partnered with Friends of the Urban Forest and volunteers to plant dozens of trees around Parnassus Heights. Photo by Deanne Fitzmaurice
Touch-a-Truck: San Francisco families gathered near the Parnassus Heights campus to learn about plans for campus revitalization and safely explore our construction vehicles at UCSF’s “Touch-a-Truck" event. Photo by Brian Feulner
Community Meetings: UCSF Community and Government Relations hosted a series of community meetings during the design process of the UCSF Barbara and Gerson Bakar Research and Academic Building to receive feedback and provide a walking tour of the spaces that will be newly accessible to the public after the building is complete. Photo by Marco Sanchez
Hospital Groundbreaking Ceremony: Over 200 national, civic, business, and academic leaders attended the launch of the UCSF Health Helen Diller Hospital, including the community advisory committees that informed the Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan. Photo by Noah Berger
Haight-Ashbury Merchant Walk: UCSF Community and Government Relations sponsored the SF Chamber of Commerce merchant walk in Haight Ashbury, highlighting local businesses near the Parnassus and St. Mary’s campuses.
A Collective Vision
The Parnassus Heights Initiative is the collective vision of our community. Starting in 2018, we engaged thousands of community leaders, neighbors, merchants, city representatives, patients and employees through surveys, meetings and working groups. This process resulted in plans to increase public pedestrian access to and through campus spaces, enhance connectivity to nature, create local jobs, and build workforce housing for San Francisco.
A Collective Vision
The Parnassus Heights Initiative is the collective vision of our community. Starting in 2018, we engaged thousands of community leaders, neighbors, merchants, city representatives, patients and employees through surveys, meetings and working groups. This process resulted in plans to increase public pedestrian access to and through campus spaces, enhance connectivity to nature, create local jobs, and build workforce housing for San Francisco.
Access to Campus Open Space
Revitalization will expand the open space at the core of campus and allow pedestrian access to a vibrant promenade with areas to pause, connect, and enjoy the city’s most beautiful natural landscapes.
Parnassus Commons
Opening public access to the heart of campus, creating a pedestrian promenade across campus, and fostering a welcoming, healing space.
Park to Peak
Connecting Golden Gate Park to the Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve, enhancing public enjoyment and accessibility to five miles of public, multi-use trails.
Conservation of Mount Sutro
Preserving the natural heritage of the 61-acre Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve — which UCSF owns and maintains — and inspiring a culture of environmental responsibility for years to come.
Driving Economic Activity
The Parnassus Heights Initiative is a campus that enhances San Francisco’s economic vitality and community well-being through efforts that drive local commerce.
Transportation
Investing in improved transit access and efficiency to better serve the community and support local businesses.
Jobs
Creating local job opportunities as one of the city’s largest employers through commitments to local hire and small business suppliers.
Housing
Building affordable workforce housing to support a dynamic and growing community.
For over 160 years, UCSF has served the people of San Francisco. Now, we’re reimagining our Parnassus Heights campus to revolutionize health care, research, and education while honoring our deep roots in the city. Be part of this exciting transformation—sign up for email updates to stay connected with construction progress and upcoming events!
Thank You
The plan to revitalize the Parnassus Heights campus reflects the vision and input of thousands of community members. We are grateful for these contributions as we transform the campus to continue serving San Francisco with world-renowned research, education and patient care for decades to come.
