As construction crews shape Sutter Health’s future Advanced Neurosciences Complex at CPMC’s Mission Bernal campus, the San Francisco Fire Department is also getting to know the building from the inside out.
Before the five-story, 129,000-square-foot facility opens in 2028, fire crews are walking the active construction site, mapping entry and exit points, testing access routes and considering how they would respond in an emergency.
Sutter’s new center will bring neurology, neurosurgery and advanced imaging together in one location. It is designed to improve coordination between specialists and create a more seamless experience for patients and families. That integration can be critical for people facing time-sensitive neurological emergencies such as stroke, when every minute counts.
Behind the scenes, safety planning is happening just as early and intentionally as the clinical design.
“Engaging first responders early helps ensure this facility is not only advanced for patient care, but ready to support rapid emergency response from day one,” said Denis McCarren, neurosciences service line executive for Sutter’s Greater San Francisco and East Bay Division.
That coordination begins long before the building is finished. Firefighters are involved throughout construction, offering practical, on-the-ground insight, from reviewing design elements to participating in walkthroughs and inspections.
On site, crews are assessing how engines will approach the building, where they can stage and how critical systems such as water access will perform under pressure. The effort reflects a broader focus on planning not just for the building, but for the surrounding neighborhood it will serve. Walkthroughs will continue as the structure takes shape, helping teams adapt in real time.
For the construction team, that input is essential.
“Early coordination with first responders helps ensure the building will function as intended in an emergency,” said Juan Restrepo, project executive with BOLDT, the firm leading construction.
For the San Francisco Fire Department, the goal is to be ready well before opening day.
“Strong partnerships and early coordination are essential to building safer communities,” said Jonathan Baxter, SFFD’s public information officer. “By working alongside Sutter Health, project engineers and construction teams throughout the development process, the San Francisco Fire Department can help ensure that fire and life safety considerations are integrated from the very beginning. This proactive approach enhances emergency preparedness, improves responder access and operational awareness, and ultimately helps protect construction personnel, future patients, healthcare staff, and the surrounding community.”
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