California Construction News staff writer
Exterior demolition of the School of Nursing (SON) building at the University of California, San Francisco’s (UCSF) Parnassus Heights campus commenced on Oct. 6, marking a major milestone in the university’s multi-year redevelopment and modernization effort.
The work, continuing through January 2026, is part of the Parnassus Central Campus Site Improvements (PCCSI) project — a key component of UCSF’s Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan (CPHP), which includes construction of the new UCSF Helen Diller Hospital and other major infrastructure upgrades.
The PCCSI project will transform the area into Parnassus Commons, a pedestrian-friendly open space featuring trails, seating, and landscaping to enhance campus access and connectivity. The site improvements also support UCSF’s sustainability and resiliency goals by upgrading utilities and preparing the central campus for future development.
Demolition crews will work from north to south in the SON building, beginning with separation work from the Clinical Sciences Building. The process will start at the CSB roof (Level 7) on October 6 and move downward, with each floor taking about two weeks. Work on Level 1 is scheduled for early December.
Trucks will haul debris via Kirkham Street and Koret Way. UCSF says it is coordinating with other campus projects to maintain safe traffic flow and minimize congestion. Construction hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and most Saturdays, in accordance with the Comprehensive Parnassus Heights Plan Environmental Impact Report.
Additional work through November 2025 will focus on removing abandoned utility infrastructure south of the SON building and Health Sciences West tower at the Hooper Pad. These upgrades will support completion of the Bakar Research and Academic Building (BRAB) and strengthen critical utilities to meet future demand, improving energy efficiency and supporting UCSF’s fossil-fuel-free initiatives.
