UCSF Opening $1.5B Medical Center In San Francisco's Mission Bay

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – UCSF is bringing a groundbreaking hospital to Mission Bay, which officials see as a Mecca for healing.

The $1.5 billion, 289-bed complex will have a special team putting as much care into art for the hospital as the contractor puts into construction.

"We need to build and create an environment that maximizes healing for the patients, for their families and to create a wonderful work environment for our staff and faculty," said Cindy Lima, Executive Director of the Mission Bay Hospital Projects.

KCBS' Rebecca Corral Reports:

Lima said the artwork will be a very important part of the healing process.

"We want to include art that creates a healing environment, a sense of wonder and delight for people of all ages," she said. "We don't want it to be hokey, but we do want it to celebrate the human experience and also acknowledge the depth of the emotions that people go through when they are in a critical health situation."

Lima said they have created an interdisciplinary art committee that includes faculty, staff, families of pediatric patients, community artists and an expert art advisory board that will search for artists who understand the project's objective.

"Art really is subjective and everybody has their own opinions," Lima said. "There is some limited research that points to the types of art that work well to try to create a healing environment."

The hospital is expected to be completed by 2014.

Click here for more information on the project.

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