UCSF – New Hospital at Parnassus Heights
The New Hospital at Parnassus Heights, also known as the Helen Diller Hospital, is a complex healthcare project located in San Francisco’s densely developed Sunset District. Malcolm’s work began with a comprehensive deep foundation test pile program that included axial compression and high-strain dynamic testing across varying subsurface conditions. Early-phase construction was completed while the existing hospital remained operational, requiring large drill rigs to work within confined areas, nighttime coordination with Muni, and operations adjacent to the Emergency Department. Following the test program, Malcolm continued as a design-assist partner, providing constructability input and value engineering throughout the planning process.
Malcolm’s scope included a shotcrete shoring wall supported by more than 300 soil nails extending up to 80 feet. Nine-foot-diameter deep soil mixing columns were installed to depths of 60 feet across approximately one-third of the hospital footprint to mitigate liquefaction potential. The excavation support system included 200 soldier beams, some up to 97 feet long, supporting excavation depths of approximately 50 feet and reinforced with tieback anchors extending up to 100 feet. More than 300 drilled piers, ranging from 3 to 4 feet in diameter, were installed to depths exceeding 200 feet, with some extending 70 feet into bedrock. Malcolm also constructed a specialized trestle platform to support equipment and maintain operations within the project’s extremely limited urban access conditions.
