Permits were filed this week that show the new vision for a futuristic hospital that could take shape in San Francisco’s Anza Vista neighborhood.
Kaiser Permanente plans to build a new hospital next to its current campus, eventually replacing the complex with an all-electric hospital bound by Geary Boulevard, Divisadero Street, St. Joseph’s Avenue and O’Farrell Street. In the documents provided to San Francisco’s planning department this week, renderings show a modern 14-floor, 760,900-square-foot building clad in lots of silvery perforated metal and reflective glass towering above Geary Boulevard and Divisadero Street. The facade was “inspired by fog moving across the hills of San Francisco” and the center section will “respond to changing light and weather conditions,” according to the project application.
This would be the third all-electric hospital for Kaiser; the healthcare provider is already working on two all-electric hospitals in Sacramento and San Jose, both expected to open in 2029. The new San Francisco facility would have more than 300 private patient beds, a “sky lounge” overlooking Divisadero and a sprawling new emergency center. Plans also include 1,253 square feet of retail and commercial space at the corner of Divisadero and Geary on the ground floor level. New trees, benches, trash cans, bike racks and other outside beautification efforts would surround the building.
An adjacent, 12-floor parking garage is planned with more than 1,000 spots at 350 St. Joseph’s Ave.
The new site is just east of the current hospital, replacing a parking structure and medical office building currently on the premises that will be demolished. Kaiser’s hospital at 2425 Geary, built in 1954, will stay open during construction. The replacement hospital has an estimated opening of 2033, a spokesperson told SFGATE.
Once complete, Kaiser said it plans to convert the old hospital into an outpatient medical office building.
Construction costs are estimated at more than $100 million, and work would start in 2028.
“Beyond delivering health care, this project represents a meaningful investment in San Francisco’s future. Construction would generate local jobs and spur economic activity, and once open, the hospital would continue to support the city’s vitality by attracting health care professionals, residents, and businesses who rely on a strong, stable health care system,” a Kaiser statement provided to SFGATE said.
A Kaiser spokesperson told SFGATE the company plans to host community forums and listening sessions in the coming months to get feedback on the project from the surrounding neighborhood. Neighborhood residents previously expressed concerns about the height of the facility, the San Francisco Chronicle reported in April. (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)