Planned Parenthood Opens New Flagship Facility in San Francisco

A new 12,000-square-foot flagship Planned Parenthood facility opened its doors in San Francisco Tuesday, and all made possible by donation funding.

The new location at 1522 Bush Street is expected to serve upwards of 13,000 patients each year for a wide range of care with its four surgical suites, eight multi-functional exam and counseling rooms and expanded services, including vasectomy access and mental health care. According to Chief of Staff Gloria Martinez, the extensive health center will help cut appointment wait times down by as many as three days.  

The Planned Parenthood center will also house a training hub, research department, executive offices and will facilitate education and fundraising efforts. It was a five-year fundraising effort that made the $22 million space a reality — more than 877 individuals and organizations made donations that funded the entire venture, the Hellman Foundation among them.

Planned Parenthood opens its new 12,000-square-foot flagship facility at 1522 Bush Street in San Francisco, Calif. on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. (Image courtesy of Planned Parenthood)

As it typically goes with Planned Parenthood, protesters are expected to flock to the new building. The organization said opposition kicked off early with “multiple and elevated threats starting January 2017,” obviously correlating to former President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Trump and his administration notoriously attacked Planned Parenthood, both rhetorically and directly in a number of policies aimed at defunding the nationwide health centers.

While Republicans have long demonized Planned Parenthood for providing abortion services, they often fail to acknowlege the vast range of affordable services they offer to both men and women. Regardless of income or insurance, people can turn to Planned Parenthood for STD and cancer screenings, birth control, prenatal care, sexual education and regular exams. 

According to data published in 2014, Planned Parenthood estimates they see nearly three million patients each year, many of whom come from traditionally underserved Black and brown communities. 

The new and extensive San Francisco flagship facility, located in the former Bee Automotive building, will make it possible to speed up appointment times and serve more patients, many of whom without affordable access to other providers.