Meeting Information

Civic_Design_Committee

CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, December 15,  2008
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

Commissioners Present: Topher Delaney, Rene Bihan, Cass Calder Smith

Staff Present:   Nancy Gonchar, Vicky Knoop, Luis R. Cancel

Call To Order: 3:00 p.m.

1. Bayview Opera House Plaza Improvements - Phase 1
   
   Nancy Gonchar, SFAC Deputy Director, gave an overview of the Bayview Opera House Improvement project and explained the three-phase plan. The first phase, painting the exterior of the building, was completed in 2008 . The second phase, being reviewed at this meeting, is plaza landscape improvements, and the third phase is the renovation of the interior and entryway. The renovations will be completed in 2012. Ms. Gonchar introduced Koa Pickering, Project Lead Designer, DPW Landscape Architecture Section.
   
   Mr. Pickering explained that the project is funded by two grants, and that his office is working with both the San Francisco Arts Commission and the Mayor’s Office on Economic and Workforce Development. He introduced Amy Cohen, Office of Economic and Workforce Development.
   
   Ms. Cohen briefly reviewed the economic development plan for Bayview and Third Street. The Opera House is in the center of the commercial district at the intersection of Third Street and Oakdale. She explained that the Mayor’s office had asked that the design be open to the street and to the public. The goal of the project is to create a community gathering place both inside and out of the Opera House. She explained that while a formal maintenance plan is not yet in place, discussions are underway with several local business owners on a joint maintenance contract for the area. The Opera House staff will provide baseline maintenance of the landscape with trash removal. Additionally, residents from a nearby senior center may be maintaining individual plots in the community garden.
   
   Mr. Pickering explained that the existing conditions of the site are often dangerous, and illegal activities are prevalent at night. The plaza’s main use over the past several years has been as parking for the Joseph Lee Gym and Playground. The current plans do not have parking as part of the plaza. The new design represents a significant transformation of the space into more of an urban square, calling attention to the fact that the Opera House is a cultural hub of downtown Bayview. Mr. Pickering explained that the plan calls for a raised grass bed with seating and a meandering path. Two existing oak trees will be preserved and will separate the stage area from the walkway. Existing fences will be replaced by a low retaining wall with a decorative fence. The Newcomb Avenue and Oakdale Avenue entrances will not be gated, while there will be a fence at the corner of Newcomb Avenue and Third Street for additional security at night.
   
   Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. There was none.
   
   Commissioner Bihan asked if they would have to regrade the oak trees.
   
   Mr. Pickering responded that no, they created a retaining wall including the trees.
   
   Commissioner Bihan commented favorably on opening up the space by removing fences.
   
   Mr. Cancel commented that the lighting should be multilevel to maintain security.
   
   Commissioner  Smith commented that there doesn’t seem to be a hierarchy of programmed spaces. There isn’t one use of the space that is prioritized over others. Commissioner Smith asked about Mendel Plaza.
   
   Mr. Pickering responded that the Mendel Plaza is across from the Opera House plaza and is a transit hub space and not a destination. The Opera House and Joseph Lee Recreation Center are destinations.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that this design doesn’t address that strategy.
   
   Commissioner Bihan commented that the current landscape design makes the Opera House seem to be a pass-through, not a destination.
   
   Commissioner Delaney and Commissioner Bihan offered to meet with the project team before the next Committee meeting to discuss the design.
   
   

2. Geneva Historic Car Enclosure - Phase 1 and 2
   
   Lisa Chow, Project Manager, SFMTA, explained that the purpose of the project is to create a cost-effective way to cover the historic streetcars. The structure will cover six tracks and protect twenty-four streetcars from the weather. The project was awarded in a design-build contract. Ms. Chow introduced Oren Rubin, Principal in Charge, VBN Architects, and Mabel Yeung, Design Team Lead, VBN Architects.
   
   Mr. Rubin explained that the project presented in November, 2007 is very similar to the current project.
   
   Ms. Yeung explained that the location of the project is near the Balboa BART station in a mainly residential area. The enclosure is surrounded by other buildings, and a fence and trees obstruct most of the remaining visibility. The enclosure itself is 200 feet wide and spans six of Muni’s tracks. It is unconditioned (i.e., there is no heating or cooling system) and mostly open with a modular structural frame and metal siding exterior walls. The gabled roof will be a cool roof with continuous skylight through the enclosure. There will be ample daylight through the interior.
   
   Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. There was none.
   
   Commissioner Delaney asked about the budget per square foot.
   
   Ms. Yeung responded that it is seven  million dollars for a 15,000-square-foot building.
   
   Ms. Chow replied that a more extensive design was previously approved by the Arts Commission, but due to cost constraints, the design was reduced.
   
   Mr. Rubin commented that the former building was a custom steel building based on the historic structures. The new building retains a similar shape.
   
   Commissioner Bihan commented that because the streetcars are so iconic to San Francisco, there should be something graphic to make the building stand out as their housing.
   
   Commissioner Smith responded that maybe the team should look into the historic streetcars for inspiration.
   
   Commissioner Bihan suggested using bolder colors on the building.
   
   Commissioner Smith added that two colors could work on the exterior, and that the cross-section of the roofline should be reflected on the front of the building.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Geneva Historic Car Enclosure: Commissioner Delaney
   Vote: Unanimously approved.
   

3. Tesla Treatment Facility – Phase 1
   
   Bijan Ahmadzadeh, Project Manager, SFPUC, explained that the project is on schedule to begin construction in April of 2009 to comply with water treatment rules. The existing facility is seventy years old and not up to current seismic standards. The PUC is constructing a new chemical process room that will house large reactors that dictate the footprint of the building. The existing buildings will be used for storage and will not be demolished. Mr. Ahmadzadeh introduced Mike Pierron, AIA, DPW BOA; Robert La Rocca, Landscape Architect, Robert La Rocca & Associates, Inc.; and Peter Mueller, Project Architect, Stantec Architecture.
   
   Mr. Mueller explained that the main vehicle access to the site makes a loop around the old buildings and goes back up to the site. The main function of the new building is as UV disinfection building. The massing is to relate to the smaller buildings and the rolling hills.
   
   Mr. La Rocca explained that the structure is in a hot, arid area and the landscape materials are limited. The main materials are the earth displaced from placing the pipes underground, decomposed granite, and hydroseed. The plan includes creating an undulating berm to screen the building from view of the highway. There is also a retention pond that will have a natural form and perhaps a few trees. The decomposed granite will be used to reflect the location of the underground pipes.
   
   Mr. Ahmadzadeh commented that the project is on track for LEED Silver certification.
   
   Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. There was none.
   
   Commissioner Bihan asked about the overflow pond.
   
   Mr. Ahmadzadeh explained that the overflow is a backup in case  one of the UV reactors fails, and it will also collect the runoff rainwater from the roof.
   
   Commissioner Smith asked about the form and color of the concrete.
   
   Mr. Mueller replied that it will be natural color concrete cast in place.
   
   Mr. Cancel asked about cost.
   
   Mr. Ahmadzadeh replied that the total project including equipment is $83 million.
   
   Commissioner Delaney requested an estimate of the cost per square foot for construction. She then asked about the design strategy.
   
   Mr. Mueller replied that the building uses formal composition and fits into the natural landscaping. The design reflects the longevity of the PUC and the modern technology used to treat the water. The design is intended to be clean, simple, and modern, and to fit into the area.
   
   Commissioner Delaney asked about using solar panels on the roof. Mr. Ahmadzadeh replied that the PUC intends to create an entire field of solar cells on the site.
   
   Commissioner Smith commented that the Committee is always hoping that the water buildings will be connected more to the art world and design. He added that he liked that the utility building doesn’t try to be something else. He commented that the team should keep the materials as natural as possible and treat these like agricultural buildings.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that the building does not have an overhang and doesn’t reference the arid environment.
   
   Commissioner Bihan suggested that the design team look at what trees are currently on or near the site and plant those species.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Tesla Treatment Facility: Commissioner Bihan
   Unanimously approved.
   
   

4. Ortega Branch Library - Phase 2
   
   Lena Ch’en  introduced the project and the project team.
   
   Ms. Hirsch  explained that this is a modification to the landscape strategy discussed at the last meeting, when she was asked to simplify the design and have it respond to the modernist building. She explained that the inspiration is to draw the viewer’s gaze toward the ocean and to filter water through the site.  The front of the building will use low-profile drought-tolerant grasses, and the viewing garden will have grasses that gradually increase in height.
   
   Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that the design is thoughtful and responded to the Commissioners’ concerns from the last meeting. She added that Ms. Hirsch did a fabulous job.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Ortega Branch Library: Commissioner Delaney
   Vote: Unanimously approved.
   
   
   

5. Merced  Branch Library - Phase 2
   
   Paul De Freitas, Project Architect, DPW BOA, gave an overview of the project and explained that the project was approved for Phase 1 with the desire for a revised entry. The library is situated in a residential neighborhood, facing away from 19th Avenue. The existing site has a large south terrace that the community requested be kept. The addition pushes out onto the north terrace. The project is on track for LEED Silver certification. The new entry will open into a courtyard space and the new addition will match the brick used in the original building. It also opens up the library to Winston and 19th Avenue.
   
   Brian Gatter, Landscape Architect, DPW BOE, explained that the addition is on the front and the landscape is expanding forward, giving a sense of entry and arrival. He added that tricky grading issues have been addressed with planters. The rear bioswale is mostly coastal native woody shrubs, and permeability and percolation will keep most of the runoff onsite.
   
   Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Bihan commented that the tree row may bury the entry deeper and the design should preserve the glass panels as much as possible.
   
   Mr. Gatter explained that he is trying to do a naturalististic landscape plan with native plants.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that she would like a more readable landscape and that, in this instance, less is more.
   
   Commissioner Smith commented that certain parts of the building should be screened, and the planting should be done accordingly.
   
   Commissioner Bihan responded that the landscape plan isn’t legible and there are too many things going on. He commented that the simple plaza is best.
   
   Commissioner Smith asked the team to return with a refined landscape plan.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Merced Branch Library with the contingency that the landscape design be revised and presented before the Phase 3 review: Commissioner Bihan
   Vote: Unanimously approved.
   

6. Golden Gate Valley Branch Library - Phase 1
   
   Lena Ch’en, Branch Library Improvement Program, gave an overview of the site and the library and introduced Paulett Taggart, of Tom Eliot Fisch/Paulett Taggart Architects.
   
   Ms. Taggart explained that the upgrade to the library is mostly interior, and the biggest challenge was the accessibility upgrade. The new elevator will allow for entry to the building and to the second floor. The new addition is a metal-clad building separated from the existing building by a slot of glass. The primary view along the exterior remains obscured by trees.
   
   Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. There was none.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that the design looks great.
   
   Commissioner Bihan commented that the trees don’t look very healthy and they aren’t helping the urban design. He suggested removing trees that are near the end of their life.
   
   Ms. Taggart commented that the design team had explored the possibility of removing the trees and there was some community support for it.
   
   Commissioner Delaney commented that the strong architecture does not need to be covered by trees.
   
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Golden Gate Valley Branch Library: Commissioner Delaney.
   Vote: Unanimously approved
   

7. New Business
   
   There was no new business.
   
   

8. Adjournment: 5:35  p.m.