San Francisco University High School Project Reaches Topping Out

Truebeck Construction is pleased to announce the topping out of the San Francisco University High School (UHS) project. The topping out ceremony on April 30, 2024 celebrated the completion of the project’s structural steel frame.

This moment marks a tremendous milestone for the project that began in 2008 when UHS purchased the property at 3150 California Street. After years of careful planning and design, the site permit was received in early 2023. Truebeck broke ground in June 2023 and completed the substructure, including concrete walls and pilasters, in March 2024.

Centralized within this new school building is a two-story gymnasium that is sized for collegiate-level athletics competition. Each of the four plate girders that support the structure above the gymnasium are 95 feet long and weigh 94,000 pounds. Because of size and weight restrictions on San Francisco City streets, each plate girder was delivered to the jobsite in two sections, where fabrication was completed before the girders were raised into position. Planning for delivery, field fabrication, and installation of these massive girders began well over a year ago with Truebeck’s structural steel trade partner, SME Steel. These girders will remain exposed in the finished gymnasium for the life of the building, and they are a testament to the project’s excellent planning and execution.

The next phase of construction will include completion of the concrete on the upper floors, installation of the exterior cladding systems, and build-out of the interior spaces. The anticipated project completion is Spring 2025. 

UHS is an independent college preparatory school in San Francisco founded in 1973. The new building is part of a multi-phase effort to maintain UHS at the forefront of educational evolution, advance its institutional priorities, and embody its vision and values. The new 48,000sf California Street Campus aims to achieve Net-Zero Energy status. The modern building, designed by Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (LMS), will provide healthy, flexible, daylit environments for 21st century learning. It includes a multipurpose gymnasium, general assignment classrooms, specialized STEM learning spaces, community gathering spaces with food service, faculty offices, and outdoor commons areas.

“The UHS project aims to be a model for sustainable building and increased community connections, while dramatically improving campus teaching and learning,” said Grant Ricks, Truebeck Project Executive.

Truebeck is collaborating with LMS and construction manager Equity Community Builders to achieve this highly efficient building on a tight, congested site. In addition to serving as the General Contractor, Truebeck is performing all concrete work. Additional consultants partnering with Truebeck on the UHS project include structural engineer Forell Elsesser, MEP and lighting engineer PAE, civil engineer Luk and Associates, and dry utilities firm Urban Design Consulting Engineers.