Meeting Information

Civic_Design_Committee

CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, March 17,  2008
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

Commissioners Present: John Kriken, Leonard Hunter, Jeannene Przyblyski, Topher Delaney

Staff Present:  Nancy Gonchar, Vicky Knoop

Call To Order: 3:05 p.m.

1. Mather Visitor’s Center
   Phase 1  

   Michael Carlin, Public Utilities Commission (“PUC”) Assistant General Manager, introduced the project and explained that the Mather Visitor’s Center would be a stopping point for visitors to Hetch Hetchy, O’Shaughnessy Dam, and Yosemite National Park. It is located 140 miles east of San Francisco on land owned by the San Francisco PUC and the Department of Recreation and Parks. 
   

   Mr. Carlin explained that the construction of the building would be slab-on-grade foundation and a log cabin structure. The space would contain an exhibit hall with rotating exhibitions and would have few windows.  
   

   Commissioner Przyblyski opened the floor to public comment.
   Commissioner Przyblyski closed the floor to public comment. 

   Commissioner Kriken asked about environmental sustainability in the design.

   Mr. Carlin said that there are south-facing skylights, the building will be shut down in winter, and it is powered from the nearby dam.  
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski commented that this building should have a sustainability education element to reflect the proposed PUC office building in San Francisco. She acknowledged that fewer windows will add to the security of the building but suggested finding other ways to admit more natural light.  
   
   Commissioner Kriken asked what paving materials would be used for the roads and driveway. 
   
   Mr. Carlin responded that the current plan was to use asphalt because bicycling is popular in the area. He also said decomposed granite could be a possibility if water runoff is an issue.  
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski commented that this would be a good site to use public art funds. She added that she liked the prominent PUC logo on the building. 
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Camp Mather Visitor’s Center with the recommendation that the designers consider additional skylights and consider the balance of bicycle-friendly roads versus permeable paving:  Commissioner Hunter
   Second: Commissioner Kriken 
   Vote: Unnanimously approved.
   
   

2. San Francisco General Hospital Rebuild Project 
   Phase 1 
   
   Ron Almeida, Project Manager, Department of Public Works (“DPW”), introduced Jim McConnell, CEO, San Francisco General Hospital, and Paulo Diaz, Project Manager, Fong and Chan Architects.
   
   Mr. Diaz gave a brief overview of the January presentation to the Civic Design Review Committee. The Commissioners’ concern over the alley entry was addressed with a canopied walkway between buildings.
   
   Mr. Diaz said that they planned to open up pedestrian traffic by removing the fence along the front of the building, but they need to wait until the Environmental Impact Report is finalized to do so.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski opened the floor to public comment.
   Commissioner Przyblyski closed the floor to public comment. 
   
   Mr. Diaz showed the digital flythrough of the design.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that the proposed building looks like a fortress, and she does not believe this is the best design for the new hospital. She added that it is inappropriate for patients to have safety concerns with the walkway to the hospital entrance. She commented that using brick for the walls is not enough to blend the historic buildings with the new building. She also reminded the architects that the space the hospital will occupy is currently a park, and argued that a similar feeling of openness and accessibility should be maintained.
   
   Mr. Diaz responded that while the programming needs of the hospital prevent matching the long design of the historic buildings, the ideals of the historic buildings are maintained in the design. 
   
   The Commissioners gave several options to open up the entryway and address safety concerns. These included making the secondary entrance on the Potrero side of the building more prominent and providing signage. Another option is to look into Asian temple design with layers of buildings. 
   
   Commissioner Kriken suggested putting a cap on the vertical elements on the front of the building.  
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski stated that while she understood the site limitations of the building, patients need to feel safe going into the facility. She added that the walkway doesn’t make sense in terms of design or safety. 
   
   Commission Przyblyski commented that Phase 1 approval is for massing of the building, and the Committee is fine with the massing on the vehicle entrances of the building, but has a continued interest in the Potrero side, which is the most visible to the community. She added that the design team should study how other buildings integrate the imperatives of the institution with the needs of the community.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski said that the hospital is vital to the City and she doesn’t want to be ashamed of her participation in the design process. She said that the design is institutional: elegant, modern and severe. She wanted to see a less severe design. 
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the San Francisco General Hospital Rebuild Project with the stipulation that the Committee would like to see a revised design for Phase 2 that is more humane and that expresses the City’s commitment to care for people: Commissioner Hunter.
   Second: Commissioner Kriken
   Vote: Unanimously approved.
   
   

3. James Rolph Clubhouse and Playground Renovation
   
   Mary Tienken, Project Manager, Recreation and Park, gave a brief overview of the project and explained that there had been changes to the design since Phase 2 approval. The color of the structure was changed from yellow to green, and the signage was moved to be more clearly visible.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 3 of the James Rolph Clubhouse and Playground Renovation: Commissioner Kriken.
   Second: Commissioner Delaney
   Vote: Unanimously approved.
   
   

4. New Business
   
   Nancy Gonchar, Deputy Director, San Francisco Arts Commission, introduced Mark Palmer, Municipal Green Building Coordinator, Department of the Environment. Mr. Palmer explained how his department enforces Chapter 7 of the Environmental Code, and discussed how Civic Design Review and the Department of the Environment can work together to ensure sustainable design. 
   
   Ms. Gonchar commented that an Arts Commission representative should attend the Resource-Efficient Buildings Task Force meetings. Mr. Palmer agreed.
   
   

5. Adjourned: 5:12 p.m.