Behind the chain-link fences and colorful mural lining the bustling street of Potrero Avenue, the renovation of the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center is underway. The project is not affecting access to medical services and the hospital will continue to remain entirely operational throughout the construction process.
Proposition A, which set aside funds to build a new trauma center in order to meet seismic- and structural-strengthening standards, was approved by San Francisco residents in 2008. At the time, SF General was facing the real possibility of having its trauma center downgraded from an acute care facility to a non-acute one, which would have left the city with no trauma center.
But thanks to voter approval, construction began in 2009 and SF General will continue to serve residents of San Francisco and Northern San Mateo County as a Level 1 Trauma Center.
The new “earthquake-resistant design” includes a steel frame being built on a mat foundation with “base isolators,” which allow the building to move 30 inches in any direction during an earthquake, meaning the building will sway with the movement rather than collapse.
Upon completion, which is scheduled for 2015, the 453,000 square-foot hospital will have 284 bedrooms — 32 more than the current hospital— including 33 new beds in the emergency department and four new operating rooms. It will have nine floors, with two underground and 7 above, which will connect to the existing hospital by way of a tunnel at the B1 level and a bridge at the second floor.
The San Francisco Department of Public Works has hired Webcor Builders to lead the construction. Tristan Cook, public relations director for the Department of Health, said that as a result of precautions taken by SFDPH and the contractor — Webcor employees are instructed to spray the tires of all the vehicles leaving the jobsite to keep any dirt from getting into the streets of the neighborhood — there have been few complaints from the community regarding noise, debris or dirt.
“We have set up a noise litigation committee, noise casts, noise stations and go door-to-door to hand out notices if there will be more noise than usual,” Cook said.
Although most neighbors have no issues with the construction, Ateyeh Ateyeh, owner of the Rose Food Mart on Potrero Avenue and 22nd Street, said she is being negatively affected, at least in the short term. The original hospital entrance on Potrero Avenue was boarded up at the start of the construction, and Ateyeh said it has hurt business.
“I have lost 40 percent of my business,” she said. “In the end, it will be great for business, but while it’s going, my business is suffering.”
Sofia Vayes, employee at La Paz restaurant feels the new trauma center is a good addition and appreciates the precautions taken to reduce noise, debris and dust.
Questions or concerns about the project should be referred to the rebuild information hotline at (415) 206-5784.
24-Hour Safety Hotline: 206-4500
E-mail: Sfgh_rebuild@sfdph.org
Website: www.sfdph.org/SFGHrebuild
Twitter: @SFGHrebuild
Facebook: San Francisco General Hospital Foundation