Civic_Design_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, August 18, 2008
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present: John Kriken, Topher Delaney, Rene Bihan
Commissioners Absent: Leonard Hunter, Jeannene Przyblyski
Staff Present: Luis Cancel, Vicky Knoop
Call To Order: 3:05 p.m.
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Mission Bay Pump Station at P-15 - Changes to approved Phase 3 design
Tony Petroccitto Project Manager, Winzler & Kelly explained that this is the major sanitary pump station for Mission Bay and was approved by the Civic Design Committee in 2006. Changes to the siting and the massing of the building have brought the design team back to the committee for review. He introduced Michael Willis, and Timothy Beedle.
Mr. Petroccitto explained that the above ground structure is a third the size of the original structure and, at the request of The Public Utilities Commission, now includes a restroom. He presented drawings of the current and previous designs and pointed out the slimmer roof line per the Committees Phase 2 suggestion.
Mr. Willis explained that the new design intends to keep the same aesthetic and only change the scale of the building and the siting. He added that they will be using a temporary emergency generator until the generator room in the USF building is built.
Commissioner Kriken opened the floor to public comment. Commissioner Kriken closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Delaney asked about the materials selection.
Mr. Wills explained that the exterior is enamel tile.
Commissioner Bihan asked if there was any signage on the building.
Mr. Willis said that there was no signage because it was not a public building.
Commissioner Kriken commented that the siting and the scale of the building improve the design.
Commissioner Delaney commented that she doesn’t believe this is the best we can do for our city. She said that the placement is great but would like to see a little more interesting architecture. She added that Third Street is a prominent location.
Mr. Willis replied that the design team was asked to create a modest idea of a park service building.
Commissioner Kriken added that this is not a public building and that this is a location for a clean and almost invisible quiet statement.
Motion to approve changes to the approved Phase 3 design of the Mission Bay Pump Station at P-15: Commissioner Kriken.
In favor: Commissioner Kriken, Commissioner Bihan.
Against: Commissioner Delaney
Motion approved.
Commissioner Kriken announced a change to the agenda to move Parkside Branch Library to the second item.
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Parkside Branch Library - Phase 2
Wiliam Wong gave a brief overview of the history of the project and introduced Kacey Jurgens, Project Architect, Thomas Hacker Architects.
Ms. Jurgens explained that during the last review, the landscape was in process of being redesigned. The new design minimizes the retaining walls in favor of grasses. She presented the planting scheme, materials, colors, and finishes. She explained that they are now using a bronze window system and the materials include glass, brick, metal panel, and wood siding.
Ms. Jurgens said that the revised landscape plan contains many add alternates on the park side of the building because of Department of Recreation and Parks budget constraints. The design uses simple pipe handrails and a bike rack. She pointed out that the butterfly roof was reflected in the landscape per the Commissioners previous Phase 2 suggestions.
Commissioner Kriken opened the floor for Public Comment. Commissioner Kriken closed the floor to Public Comment.
Commissioner Bihan commented favorably on the butterfly roof and detail.
Ms. Jurgens added that the project follows LEEDS standards and they are currently planning a bioswell for roof runoff.
The Commissioners agreed this was a good choice.
Commissioner Bihan suggested the design team take a close look at grading lines of the landscape to be sure they are correct and match the clean lines of the architecture.
Motion to approve the Parkside Branch Library Phase 2: Commissioner Delaney
Unanimously approved.
- San Francisco International Airport Secure Connector - Phase 1 and 2
Ray Quesada, Project Manager, San Francisco Airport Bureau of Design and Construction explained that the project has been in process for several years and Phase 1 and 2 were approved by the Civic Design Committee in 2005. He presented a model of the approved original design by DPW. This design had a footprint following an underground utility tunnel and any construction would have hit the utility lines. This made it impossible to move forward with the project as previously designed. Mr. Quesada introduced Michael Shanus, the Project Architect from KPA Group working on the connector redesign.
Mr. Shanus explained the security needs of the airport and the design challenges. The location of the walkway is a major thoroughfare and the underground utility tunnel limits the placement of the supports. He explained that the new building is massed in such a way to only use as much space as needed and the walkway reflects materials used in other airport design. He explained there is already a provision for public art through the structure.
Commissioner Bihan asked why the opening of the tunnel can not go to grid space F.
Mr. Quesada explained that that area is leased by an airline and is not currently under airport control.
Mr. Shanus added that the construction would be impossible because the vehicle access road runs directly below that area and a support column would block vehicle access.
Commissioner Delaney suggested some sort of fenestration to open up the space. She then asked if there had been any design changes since previous approval.
Mr. Quesada said it was the same, but he brought along the additional materials that were requested during previous review.
Commissioner Kriken commented that the building and walkway don’t have the sense of the integrated design. He added that he would like to see more angular elements especially in the roofline.
Mr. Quesada replied that a previous design had the sloped roof and was not accepted by the commission.
Commissioner Delaney commented that the San Francisco Airport should work on developing the iterations of the large buildings into the smaller additions. She added that she didn’t think the massing was particularly elegant on this project.
Mr. Quesada asked if the commissioners were commenting on exteriors or interiors of the building.
Commissioner Bihan replied that they were referring to both.
Mr. Cancel requested that the team return with a better presentation on the challenges they are facing with the walkway.
- Bay Division Pipelines Reliability Upgrade - Tunnel Shaft Housing - Phase 2
Stanley So, DPW BOA, explained that the design team took the comments from last meeting into consideration on form and massing of the building. The materials will be reinforced concrete walls with horizontal reveals and metal doors and louvers. The finish with be exposed concrete with integral earth tone color and dark brown doors and louvers. This design is a variation on another PUC pipeline project.
Commissioner Kriken opened the floor to public comment. Commissioner Kriken closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Delaney commented that she is completely encouraged that the design team took the building and made something more sculptural.
Commissioner Kriken asked how the building sits on the ground.
Mr. So replied that it is sitting on top of a large concrete cylinder that goes down to the tunnel.
Commissioner Kriken commented that the building looks to be sinking without any termination at the base.
Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Bay Division Pipelines Reliability Upgrade—Tunnel Shaft Housing on the condition that the design team reevaluate the design of the base of the building: Commissioner Delaney
Unanimously approved.
- San Francisco General Hospital Rebuild Project - Informational Presentation
Gene O’Connell of San Francisco General Hospital explained that they have made great progress on the project and reminded the committee that the most important parts of the building are the programs inside.
Nuno Lopes, Project Manager, Fong and Chan Architects presented designs for the podium and tower. He explained that both incorporate characteristics of the historic buildings. He added that LEED is an important part of the process. Changes since the previous approval include a hat to the top of the building to give the tower a sense of completion, plant covered sunshades, and two variations of the drum design. He explained that the design team is still looking at the Portrero entrance of the building and would like to continue to work on the base of the building.
Paulo Diaz, Project Manager, Fong and Chan Architects explained that they tried to simplify and identify the Portrero entrance as a direct path into the campus.
Robert La Roca, Landscape Architect, commented that most of the patients will see plant material when looking out the windows. On the second level there will be planter boxes at 2, 3, and 4 foot elevations. He added that the plant materials will have to be hardy, and take the wind but will add a healing benefit to patients looking out.
He explained that on the ground level there is a humble budget for paving materials, but he has created a long sweeping pattern to create a focus. Along the base of the building they are proposing vines, ficus, and Bougainvillea.
Commissioner Kriken asked the design team to state the strategies that relate this building to the brick buildings on either side.
Mr. Lopes replied that they have located the base to line up with the existing buildings and moved the mass to the front as much as possible.
Commissioner Delaney suggested the design team has consider making the whole front plaza open to people as a public space.
Commissioner Bihan agreed and added that they have a great opportunity for place making. He suggesting removing the brick wall to open up the space as much as possible.
John Rahaim, the Director of San Francisco Planning, commented that this project goes to multiple bodies and the Planning Commission believes the drum should be quite contemporary. He added that it doesn’t seem likely that any of the brick elements will be removed from the front.
Commissioner Bihan replied that a suburban lawn may not be the best landscape choice for a urban public area.
Commission Delaney commented that with the new hospital the community lost a park but the City is unable to part with small brick buildings and fencing in the front of the hospital. She added that it seems that the posts are more important than the park.
Commissioner Kriken commented unfavorably on the alternating brick and wire mesh along the base of the building. He said he would rather see it all green, all brick, or a different strategy like a punched opening strategy.
Mr. Cancel suggested a joint meeting with planning to work on these issues.
Mr. Rahaim agreed that a preliminary meeting with a few members from each commission could be helpful.
Commissioner Bihan commented that the vines on the sunshades are not feasible because of maintenance and cost.
Mr. La Roca commented that they would only need to be maintained twice a year.
Commissioner Bihan and Commissioner Delaney agreed that the vines are not feasible given the limited gardening staff, cost, and maintenance. Commissioner Delaney added that once the vines beginning to die, a main focus of the building will be the metal mesh.
Commissioner Bihan commented that below the drum the base doesn’t look like San Francisco or like a significant urban entry place. Commissioner Bihan suggested the team look to other places in that community like pocket parks or other small public open spaces.
Commissioner Delaney commented that she loves the drum, but suggests there be an urban relationship to the street. She added that a public hospital should be for everyone and the design team needs to do some editing.
Adjourned: 5:17
