As part of a decade-long relationship, Stantec designed the newest part of UCSF’s burgeoning Mission Bay campus. Situated across the street from the flagship hospital and state-of-the-art Bakar Precision Cancer Medicine Building – both designed by Stantec – the new clinic building significantly expands UCSF’s resources in the area and further cements their expertise in the delivery of healthcare. Delivered on time and in budget, a high-quality medical care facility that exceeded expectations and continues to garner praise from UCSF leadership, staff, and patients alike.

The project is composed of two buildings, a five-story clinic and a nine-level parking garage. The 183,000 sf clinic building houses urgent care, imaging, and pharmacy spaces on the first floor; surgical spaces on the second floor; primary and specialty clinical space on the third and fourth floors; and a shelled fifth floor to support expansion of additional operating rooms and clinics. The design for Bayfront Medical serves as a dynamic gateway to Mission Bay campus. It combines site features such as parks and drop-off accommodations with the adjacent building design to have a complimentary presence that is energetic yet pleasing. A good neighbor to the surrounding campus, civic and residential buildings, as well as a state-of-the-art facility that reflects the goals and mission of UCSF and UCSF Health.

The interior design embraces a holistic approach, creating a “healing environment” through intelligent medical planning and thoughtful design, optimizing the experience for both patients and staff. The ground floor is defined by floor-to-ceiling glass, extending the interior into the streets and the new on-site urban park, activating the streetscape and inviting the community to engage with the building on all three sides. The lobby features a striking back-lit panel-clad space that houses the pharmacy, while also serving as the heart of the building, seamlessly connecting multiple far-apart entrances without wasting space. Designed for future adaptability, the upper floors are organized with standardized clinical modules, color-coded finishes to aid wayfinding, and abundant natural light pouring through exterior windows offering stunning bay views. Floor-to-ceiling glazing brings daylight deep into the clinical spaces, further enhancing the healing environment. The building’s clean, contemporary aesthetic, combined with artwork by local artists, reflects UCSF’s values and connects with its diverse patient and staff community.

Designed to exceed sustainability standards, the building is elevated above anticipated sea level rise. Energy modeling and carbon impact studies optimized the building envelope and systems, and a study of daylight usage and glare led to the use of fritted exterior glass for enhanced comfort. A “triple-bottom-line” analysis (environmental, social, and economic impacts) guided every decision, resulting in a LEED Gold certification and a 32% reduction in embodied carbon. Bayfront Medical Center is the largest and first all-electric building in the U.S. to use a revolutionary patented approach that eliminates the need for cooling towers, boilers, and condensers.

Design: Stantec
Contractor: Clark Construction
Construction Manager: JTec HCM
Furniture Vendor: One Workplace
Photography: David Wakely