The University of California, San Francisco Facilities Services department is supporting research at UCSF with our 25-Year Renewal Program.
“Right about the 25-year mark, building systems begin reaching the end of their useful lives,” says Renewal Program Manager, Melissa Cherry.
The Renewal Program focuses on enhancing research facilities, lab areas, and other vital campus environments to ensure their sustainability. Additionally, this program ensures that safety, performance, and energy use standards are met.
“UCSF is fortunate to have dedicated funding for a 25-Year Renewal Program,” says Bernadette Jimenez, Senior Director of Facilities Services Infrastructure Programs. “The intent of the program is to address major building systems such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and roofing, at their 25-year maturation mark.”
Planning for renewal projects involves assessing and prioritizing facility infrastructure needs and areas of improvement to mitigate risks to research operations. The next stages include allocating program funding, project design, construction contract award, and construction work to complete the on-time renewal. Below you will see some of the major projects that have been prioritized for this critical research facility.
Mount Zion Renewal Projects
Building Control System: Intuitive Temperature Adjustments. Project Dates: February 3, 2022 - June 30, 2022
The building control system is the central hub that connects to other building mechanics and allows for maintaining ideal temperatures in spaces throughout the facilities. This system is intuitive and adaptable to the unique needs of different environments within the building. As part of the renewal project, the control valves of the system were replaced in the basement area, including animal care spaces.
Air Intake System: Immunity from Building Air Infiltrators. Project Dates: April 29, 2021 - November 6, 2022
The air intake system is a line of defense for the building against harmful pollutants entering the building’s air. Air intake levels were raised to meet the code minimum height requirement and prevent pollutants like car exhaust fumes and debris from the street from entering the building. The project also included installing new insulation panels and upgrading the entrance around the system with new glass and programmable LED lighting.
E-Power Extension: Energy Source in Case of Emergency. Project Dates: July 12, 2021 – December 20, 2022
The e-power extension project features the addition of a new automatic transfer switch and emergency distribution panel which will transfer power loads to generator power in case of a power outage.
Chilled Water System: How our Building is Kept Chilly. Project Dates: February 21, 2022 – Est. April 30, 2023
The chilled water system project involved replacing the current mechanical cooling system, including centrifugal chillers, cooling towers, pumps, and related equipment. To install the new chiller, the project team had to create an opening in the sidewalk above the mechanical room. However, the project is currently awaiting a final permit from the San Francisco Department of Public Works to replace the sidewalk.
Door Renewal: Detecting Who Is In and Out of Our Building. Project Dates: August 1, 2022 -- Est. May 1, 2024
The door renewal project involved upgrading entrances at Mount Zion that were worn and corroded. The old doors were replaced with new automatic sliding doors and the Infrastructure Programs team is now working on including the addition of a command system to replace existing card readers.
Building Envelope: Ensuring the Structure is in Equilibrium. Project Dates: Est. April 1, 2023 -- April 1, 2025
The building envelope, in construction terms, refers to everything that separates the building’s interior from the outside. The renewal project includes rehabilitating the complete building envelope (siding, roof, windows, etc.) to improve the building’s waterproofing and appearance.
Variable Air Volume Ductwork: Verifies Ideal Temperatures. Project Dates: Est. May 15, 2023 - May 1, 2029
The VAV ductwork system is one of the systems connected to the building control system. It is currently being converted from a constant volume distribution system to a variable volume system that will allow the building control system to intuitively provide hot or cold air to the building and maintain ideal temperatures.
Cold Room Upgrades: Keeping the Campus Labs Cool. Project Dates: Est. July 1, 2023 -- April 30, 2024
Cold rooms are spaces in the building in which a controlled temperature is constantly maintained specifically for research and lab environments. This renewal project involves replacing the existing cold room flooring, evaporators, and condensing units that serve cold rooms throughout the building and on the roof.
Filterbanks: Suppresses Noise and Vibrations. Project Dates: Est. August 1, 2023 -- July 31, 2024
The project scope for this renewal includes replacing the main air handling filter sections, existing humidifiers, and acoustical louvers in the basement. The project is near completion, pending revisions to address the corrosion found in the basement.
What Building is Next?
Other projects in the 25-Year Renewal Program for the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center Building include the domestic hot water boiler replacement and fire alarm control panel upgrade.
Facilities Services has a strong partnership with the building’s Chief Engineer, Alberto Alfaro, and his team. Alfaro says “from design to project completion, the team has hit it out of the park every time! It’s gratifying to be a part of an organization that genuinely cares about healthcare, and it starts with their building’s infrastructures.”
Also key to the renewal effort have been building stakeholders, construction contractors, and the cooperation and patience of building occupants. Facilities Services is excited and honored to continue our efforts in supporting research and education in the UCSF community. Thank you to Chancellor Hagwood and his leadership team for supporting and funding building renewal programs.
