Organized under the County Executive’s Office, the Project Development Unit (PDU) provides construction services for all new ground up-up capital construction projects for the County of San Mateo property portfolio. The PDU pursues excellence by delivering buildings and other County infrastructure that are cost-effective, sustainably, and equitably designed, and compatible with the County of San Mateo mission to enhance the well-being of children, adults, and families by providing professional, responsible, caring, and supportive service.

Through the Board of Supervisors' leadership and commitment to providing County services, the PDU was tasked the design and implementation of facilities that focused on ensuring safe, sustainable, and accessible new buildings. PDU successfully completed various brand-new facilities from 2019 through 2023. These new facilities consisted of the Public Safety Communications' Regional Operations Center (ROC), the Peninsula Humane Animal Shelter, the relocation of the historic landmark, Lathrop House, a seven story 1022 stall parking facility in Redwood City, and the first Navigation Center for the unhoused population.  

Moving forward over the next five years, the PDU’s emphasis will continue to be focused on completing the Board’s vision of sustainable, accessible, and safe buildings. In its final phase, the San Mateo Medical Center will be completing by winter 2025 a complex multi-phase project, comprised of demolition of seismically non-complaint 1952 and 1954 buildings, construction of a new 87,000 square-foot Administration and Link Buildings, renovation of approximately 35,000 square feet of existing hospital, reconfiguration of the site entrance, and renewed and revised landscaping. The new buildings completed to date include a new Coroner’s Morgue and Offices and a Public Health Lab.

Situated in a valley surrounded by open space and trails, the new 100,000 gross square foot Cordilleras Health Campus consists of a 121-Bed Cordilleras Health Campus is comprised of; four single-story, net zero energy and LEED certified sustainable building materials, These individual single story mental health recovery centers, each accommodates and provides services to 16 individuals; a separate housing unit for 57 individuals with a history of mental illness; a campus core with a multipurpose room, arts and crafts center, a chapel, conference rooms and other support spaces; a variety of outdoor areas, including secure courtyards, for communal gathering, sheltered seating, gardens, sports courts, and improved views from the center. Civic improvements include circulation and fire access improvements on both sides of Cordilleras Creek.

Currently the PDU is demolishing the old Cordilleras Facility and moving to the final phase of construction. The Site Amenities Phase. This final phase will include a secured area for communal gathering and a variety of outdoor areas and courtyards so that individuals could enjoy outdoor activities.

Estimated Completion Date: Winter 2025

The Pescadero Fire Station No. 59 project will be relocated adjacent to the Pescadero High School. This new state of the art, 4-bay Fire Station will improve operational resilience on the County’s largest fire district. The new single story 12,000 square foot facility will be built outside the floodplain and will offer state-of-the-art efficiency upgrades that will directly benefit Pescadero and the south San Mateo County community.  

The project is completing design and preparing to go out to bid winter of 2025-26.

Estimated Completion: October 2027

The 77,000 square foot North County Wellness Center is a new Health and Human Services office building which will expand the San Mateo County Health and Human Services ability to deliver medical and dental primary care services and Human Services programs to the residents of North San Mateo County. In addition to housing a Medical Clinic and Human Services Agency, the building will also hold satellite offices of the District Attorney’s Office, and the Treasure-Tax Collector.

The building will be built with Mass Timber and Cross Laminated Timber construction and will be designed per the County Green Building Policy to be all-electric, and LEED Certified. A solar photovoltaic array over the parking lot and on the rooftop, and a battery backup system to allow standby power capacity will be provided to offset building consumption, reducing Carbon footprint. Additional sustainability features include sustainable building materials such as green infrastructure, EV chargers, and bicycle parking stalls. The new North County Wellness Center contributes to the County of San Mateo’s commitment to improving on the county’s sustainable building portfolio.

The project will achieve certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Estimated completion: Winter 2027