Collaboration and community are two important characteristics that make UCSF the vibrant institution it is today. COVID may have impacted how everyone in the world works but here at UCSF, nothing compares to meeting and collaborating in person for the sense of community, camaraderie, and the dynamic exchange of ideas.
We are happy to share that now through June 2026, we are offering complimentary* use of the Aldea Center at Mt. Sutro to UCSF departments for on-site meetings and retreats, to both encourage in-person meetings and to celebrate the spirit of collaboration unique to our community.
The Aldea Center is situated at the top of Medical Center Way within the beautiful forest of Mount Sutro, adjacent to the Parnassus Heights campus, nearby UCSF Housing, and close to hiking trails that are open to the public. The center is approximately 1,500 square feet of indoor space, encompassing a large meeting room, catering assembly area, two private restrooms, and a second-floor patio adjacent to the main room. The building is ADA accessible and has a limited number of parking spaces, including one ADA space, dedicated to the Aldea Center.
Take a Virtual Tour
Visualize your meeting or retreat, and make sure to peek outside for a full picture of your guests' experience.
Optimize Your Experience
We have recently upgraded the audio/visual capabilities at the Aldea Center, however for complimentary uses we recommend that your event at this location be in-person only. If you prefer or require a hybrid meeting—with virtual and on-site participation, you will need staffing to access the system and work with our team to secure ETS for your event.
There are a few more things event planners need to know:
- For complimentary events, we offer a standard set up and recommend an in-person meeting. The AV system can accommodate zoom but requires some onsite support.
- For access to the on-site lactation room, please have your attendee(s) reach out to the UCSF Lactation Program for access via their badge.
- Staffing is limited during the complimentary usage period now through June 2026. Our team can support event planners with:
- Space reservations
- Confirmation of your reservation via a service-level agreement
- Designing the room layout based on your needs
- Directions to the center
- Information about parking and the shuttles
- Badge access will be granted to two hosts of the event (doors will not be completely unlocked but you may prop the doors)
- Wi-Fi is UCSF Guest and UCSF WPA
Please note, if your meeting requires additional assistance, please let us know and we will do our best to make appropriate accommodations (additional fees may apply).
Hours of Operation
Reservations are available Tuesday – Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. This includes set up and clean up time. We are closed on University Holidays.
Hollow square setup option.
Capacity and Layout Options
The standard setup is boardroom style for 20 people. This setup is provided for complimentary use.
Other setup options include:
- Rounds for 56 people maximum (this fills the entire room)
- Hollow Square for 24 people
- U-shape for 24 people
- Theatre for 60 people
- Reception for 100 people
*Fees apply for setups outside of the standard.
Catering
We encourage our clients at all of our centers to work with our partners at Moffitt Catering for all their catering needs. We recommend that all conference center clients check in with Moffitt Catering as soon as possible to see if Moffitt can support your event.
Please note that it is UC Policy that all “full service” catering be contracted through Moffitt Catering.
Reservations
You can find the Aldea Center in EMS (Event Management System). To access EMS, you'll need to go through your MyAccess Portal. On the main page of EMS, you'll see "Campus Life Services Venues" as on option. Please click on that menu and you'll see all our venues, including the Aldea Center. If you have any questions, please be sure to contact us at Conference.Services@ucsf.edu
Address: 155 Johnstone Drive, San Francisco CA 94122
