Facilities Manager Millicent Cooper became the first UCSF staff member to move into her office at Genentech Hall on Oct. 8, 2002, one day after the San Francisco Giants clinched the division game against the Atlanta Braves, but with a big job ahead of her and a limited amount of time, Cooper likely won't have time to head to Pac Bell Park to watch her new neighbors. She only has about two and a half months to supervise a Facilities Management team that must prepare the building for occupancy by scientists and other staff in January 2003.

The building's chief engineer, Bruno Cekovic, set up his shop months ago and now the engineering firm contracted by UCSF has a staff of eight at work. The engineering staff will eventually include a staff of 15 working in shifts around the clock.

On a sunny Tuesday morning, Cooper, a 15-year UCSF employee, reported for duty fully aware of the significance of the event.

"This is a historic moment," said Cooper, who as Mission Bay Facilities Manager will eventually oversee all the buildings at the 43-acre campus. (Cooper can be reached at 514-4002.) "It's a fantastic opportunity and it's great to be part of a project from the ground up."

On her first day, Cooper's first order was to get the locks changed around the building's perimeter and set up the security staff in the building. In November, access to Genentech Hall will be controlled by an ever-present security guard and through identification card keys around the perimeter.

"This is a major milestone," said David Grego, manager or support services for Facilities Management. "With the opening of this building, the University is embarking on a new era and additional buildings coming on line in rapid succession."

Grego, who will continue to work out of the Parnassus campus for the time being, will be spending a lot of time at Genentech Hall, helping to break in the building, overseeing, along with Cooper, the testing of equipment and systems.

Russ Akre, who served as Facilities Management's project manager for the largest single building in UCSF's 145-year history, greeted Cooper with smiles. "I have a real sense of pride and accomplishment and I'm really pleased with how it turned out," said Akre.

Akre will spend the next several months supervising the final touches at Genentech Hall, which has reached the construction phase known as "substantial completion," before he starts on one of his next projects: construction of the 840-car parking garage (23B) at Mission Bay.

Construction crews began pile-driving operations for the Campus Community Center and parking structure last week, according to Debra Marinozzi, UCSF project manager for the community center. Meanwhile, crews continued to place stone on the exterior of the second research building (19B), which is scheduled to open for occupancy in fall 2003.

On her first day working at Genentech Hall, Cooper moved phones, boxes and temporary furniture to her first floor office along with other Facilities Management staff, including assistant Patricia McMahon.

"I'm going to tell my trainer that I don't need to work out on the treadmill today," McMahon laughed. "I've been walking all around this building."

The six-story building will eventually serve about 900 faculty and staff, including about 52 Facilities Management employees who will provide building maintenance and custodial services.

Source: Lisa Cisneros

Last updated January 28, 2005

Millicent Cooper

Millicent Cooper moved to UCSF Mission Bay in October as the Mission Bay Facilities Manager. She eventually will oversee all the buildings on the 43-acre campus. Photo by Lisa Cisneros.

Millicent Cooper and Russ Akre

Millicent Cooper, Facilities Manager for UCSF Mission Bay, poses with Russ Akre, Facilities Management project manager for Genentech Hall, on her first day at the new teaching and research building. Photo by Lisa Cisneros.

Millicent Cooper and Russ Acre

Millicent Cooper, Facilities Manager for UCSF Mission Bay, front row, center, stands with the crew that is helping prepare Genentech Hall for occupation of researchers in January 2003. Photo by Lisa Cisneros.