UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals has secured final approval for a $1.49 billion hospital expansion on its Oakland campus, aimed at providing a cutting-edge, child-focused medical facility for families across the Bay Area. The University of California Board of Regents approved the project.
The new facility will replace the existing UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland, a historic pediatric safety net hospital and Level 1 trauma center that has been serving the community for over a century. The hospital consistently ranks among the top children’s hospitals nationwide.
“The new hospital project is our commitment to delivering the best care for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status,” said Nicholas Holmes, MD, MBA, president of UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. “This investment will ensure world-class care for generations.”
Set to open in 2030, the seven-story, 277,500-square-foot facility will feature a healing environment with abundant natural light and outdoor spaces. The design includes room for families to stay with their child and accommodates advanced hospital equipment.
The expanded emergency department will double the current space, improving efficiency and capacity for trauma care. The new building will also include a new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), seven surgical suites, and a 20-bed inpatient behavioral health unit. Patient rooms will increase from 39 to 137, and the facility will add rooms for families with multiple children.
The new building will embody sustainable practices, aiming for LEED Gold certification and implementing energy and water conservation measures. It will include 120 electric vehicle charging stations and bicycle parking.
The expansion is part of a broader $1.62 billion modernization plan for the 11-acre Oakland site, which also includes a new administrative building, upgraded equipment, and infrastructure improvements. The project will create thousands of construction jobs and future healthcare careers.
“This investment will greatly enhance pediatric care in the East Bay and provide significant economic benefits to the local community,” said UCSF Chancellor Sam Hawgood, MBBS. The project will also employ union workers and support local training programs.
In addition to approving the investment and construction plans, the UC Regents certified the Environmental Impact Report and adopted the necessary environmental and development plans.
