Civic_Design_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, November 17, 2008
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present: Topher Delaney, Rene Bihan, Jeannene Przyblyski, Cass Calder Smith
Staff Present: Nancy Gonchar, Vicky Knoop
Call To Order: 3:00 p.m.
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San Antonio Pump Station Upgrade Project – Phases 1 and 2
Vivian Chow, PUC Project Manager, gave a brief overview of the Water System Improvement Project in Sunol Valley. She explained that the San Antonio Pump Station will undergo seismic upgrades and add two generators to the facility. She introduced Mitchell Joe, PUC Project Architect.
Mr. Joe explained that the intent of the design for the Pump Station building is to provide seismic reinforcement in a functional and more contemporary style. The exterior walls will be reinforced with 8 to 10 inches of shotcrete. Existing exterior haunches will be removed and exterior windows will be replaced or filled in. He explained that all existing openings, wall-mounted devices, conduits and equipment on exterior walls will be relocated or pushed outward to the new wall faces. Two generators and a switchgear unit will be added on new exterior concrete pads south of the pump station building. The fence along Calaveras Road will be replaced with a new 10-foot-high black chainlink fence. Mr. Joe pointed out that a new path will provide access to the existing restroom. He presented a materials board with colors and samples of the shotcrete and fencing.
Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Delaney said that although this is a utilitarian building, she would like to see more detail in the design. She added that the architect should be proud of his work. She commented that there seems to be no landscaping.
Mr. Joe explained that they are keeping the original form of the building and working within that framework. He added that a formal landscape design would not fit in with the surroundings.
Commissioner Bihan commented that it shouldn’t be formal landscaping, but he would like to see some thought put into the planting.
Michelle Liapes, PUC Communications, explained that there is no irrigation or maintenance available for landscaping.
Commissioner Bihan commented that there are species of trees across the street that would do well on the site without irrigation or maintenance.
Commissioner Przyblyski observed that the Hetch Hetchy bond is a large capital improvement project for the San Francisco water system, encompassing dozens of structures, and instead of discussing each structure’s design on a case-by-case basis, the Committee would like to see cohesive and overarching design standards or requirements for the entire water system. She added that there should be a clear vision and a plan for how these design standards are expressed at each site. She asked where the civic expression, including a grand civic expression, will be.
Commissioner Bihan agreed with Commissioner Przyblyski that there should be a system-wide perspective.
Ms. Gonchar suggested requesting a presentation by the PUC on the master plan of the water system that identifies where the civic expression will be located.
Commissioner Smith commented that the upgrade is an improvement on the building and that he likes that it is clean and modern. He suggested removing the sheet metal detailing on the top, and said that the roof seems unresolved.
Motion to approve Phase 1 of the San Antonio Pump Station Upgrade Project: Commissioner Przyblyski
Vote: In favor: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Bihan, and Commissioner Przyblyski
Opposed: Commissioner Delaney
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Lake Merced Pump Station Essential Upgrades - Phase 3
Edmund Shum, DPW BOA Project Architect, explained that there have been no changes to the building’s form or design. There have, however, been changes to the landscape plan. Mr. Shum introduced John Dennis, Landscape Architect, DPW BOA.
Mr. Dennis explained that the trees originally presented in the scope of the project were no longer part of the construction documents, and another City department will plant the landscape.
Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Przyblyski asked why the landscape was removed from the scope.
Mr. Dennis explained that there are two schools of thought regarding urban forestry. The first is to plant larger trees with automatic irrigation, and the second is to plant many smaller trees and see which survive. The original design called for the first approach, but the Department of Parks and Recreation decided to plant many smaller trees instead.
Commissioner Przyblyski commented that she would like to ensure that the landscape is planted.
Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Lake Merced Pump Station Upgrade Project with the contingency that the project team will notify the Arts Commission when the approved landscape has been planted: Commissioner Przyblyski
Vote: Unanimously approved.
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La Grande Pump Station Upgrade - Phase 1
Mr. Shum gave an overview of the project including the location and materials. He explained that they will be using on-grade planters around this small building in a residential neighborhood.
Robert Lopez, PUC Communications, explained that the project was presented to the Excelsior Planning Group, a community organization who gave feedback on the design. The design team also sent out renderings of the proposed station to the neighbors.
Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Bihan commented that the amount of paving should be reduced in the front of the building and there should be some sort of landscape and civic expression.
Commissioner Przyblyski commented that this might be a good instance where using public art funds at the pump station could provide art to an underserved area.
Howard Fung, PUC Project Manager, explained that for most PUC projects security is a concern and art or specific signage would draw unwanted attention.
Commissioner Przyblyski replied that it is clearly a pump station, and while there doesn’t need to be specific signage, there could be greater civic expression.
Commissioner Smith commented that the plaza and façade should be more carefully considered as a whole design. He added that the Committee will be taking a hard look at the façade and plaza in Phase 2.
Motion to approve Phase 1 of the La Grande Pump Station Upgrade: Przyblyski
Vote: unanimously approved.
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Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse Renovation - Phase 1
Jacob Gilchrist, Project Manager, the Trust for Public Land, introduced the project and explained that this will be the first of three projects they will bring to before the Committee in the next three years. He introduced Brian Milman, Project Architect, the Trust for Public Land.
Mr. Milman explained that the design is based around existing programs and allowing visibility to the playground. Changes since the last review include pulling the building away from the corner of the lot, lowering the roof on parts of the building, and creating a hedge on Linden Street. The lowered roof emphasizes the taller portions of the project and creates a beacon as viewed down Buchanan Street. The design is now two buildings with a pavilion between.
Mr. Milman explained that the landscape plan calls for a yard and two sets of play equipment for school-age and younger children. There is a garden for the kitchen, and the pavilion will act as a community porch.
Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Bihan liked the changes in the building and commented that the two surface paving materials in the yard should be considered more carefully. He added that maintenance of the vegetable garden should be planned in advance. He asked if a barbecue space would be included.
Mr. Milman responded that a barbecue is planned, but the location has not been decided.
Commissioner Delaney commented that the architecture is delightful, but there should be equal thought put into the landscape. She suggested thinking about what a child would learn about nature from this playground.
Commissioner Smith was concerned that the Linden Street elevation will have a lot of fence, wall and roof. He added that he likes the building in general and asked about the blue exterior material.
Mr. Milman replied that it would be a colorized Trespa-type panel or tile.
Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Hayes Valley Playground and Clubhouse Renovation: Commissioner Przyblyski
Vote: Unanimously approved.
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Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library - Phase 1
Lena Ch’en, Branch Library Improvement Program Manager, gave a brief overview of the Library Improvement Program and introduced Kacey Jurgens, Project Architect, THA Architecture Inc.
Ms. Jurgens explained that the Bayview Library was originally slated for an addition and renovation, but the project has been expanded to demolish the existing structure and construct a new single-story building on a larger footprint. Community meetings have been held regarding the scope and location, and a design peer review is scheduled with the Library Commission. The new Bayview Library is slated to open in November of 2011.
Ms. Jurgens explained that programmatic issues including space for community meetings, a courtyard, and a separated children’s area drive the design. The goal of the exterior is to create a public presence on the street corner and make an inviting space for the public. There are clerestories to bring light deep into the building. She explained that the design team is just beginning to design the landscape, and are proposing a green roof and a featured tree in the courtyard. The project is eligible for art enrichment and Ms. Jurgens presented a few possible locations for work. She added that, separate from the percent-for-art, there will be artwork integration into the exterior. Glass windows will be etched with scenes of the history of the Bayview and a textured terracotta exterior will make reference to weaving.
Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Delaney commented that the community is not entirely African American and that the diverse population of Bayview should be considered when designing the building and selecting artwork.
Commissioner Przyblyski commented that there are a lot of feelings about who is being displaced as the neighborhood changes, and she added that the art for the site would need to go through a separate public process.
Ms. Jurgens replied that depicting the history of Bayview on the exterior wouldn’t strictly be about African American heritage, and that other artwork would be under the purview of the Arts Commission.
Commissioner Bihan commented that the design team should look more closely at the urban area and existing streetscape in relation to the architecture.
Commissioner Smith commented that the design of the corner entrance should be stronger and the straight-on elevations should have the same visual impact as the corner view. He suggested playing with the form, the slope and the carving vocabulary currently existing in parts of the design.
Commissioner Przyblyski agreed that there should be a strong and welcoming entry to the library.
Commissioner Przyblyski asked the project team to return for a combined Phase 1 and Phase 2 approval.
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Ortega Branch Library - Phase 2
Lena Ch’en, Branch Library Improvement Program Manager, explained that there have been two community meetings regarding the Ortega Branch Library and that the design team is working with the Department of Parks and Recreation for landscape design and plant choice. The branch is eligible for art enrichment and is working with the Arts Commission to plan artwork for the location. Ms. Ch’en introduced Youcef Bouhamama, DPW BOA Project Architect.
Mr. Bouhamama gave an overview of changes since the Phase 1 review including the creation of a larger community room that opens directly to the plaza, as requested during a community meeting. A fence was also removed from the design and the entry was revised per the Civic Design Committee’s request. The living roof was reduced to cover a smaller portion of the roof. He explained that the new library is on a larger footprint than the existing library, and it will be more visible from the street that the current building. He introduced Lizzy Hirsch, Landscape Architect, DPW BOA.
Ms. Hirsch explained that this is a LEED Silver project and that the storm water runoff will be mitigated by the gardens and permeable paving. To select plants, she is working with a biologist to create the living roof and landscape reflecting the ecosystem of coastal California. She explained that the waves of landscape in the viewing garden reflect waves in the ocean with grasses gradually giving way to larger plants.
Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Smith commented that the materials are consistent with the design of the building. He added that this if the modernist vocabulary is detailed elegantly, it can look good.
Commissioner Delaney said that the landscape in the viewing garden doesn’t read as a ripple effect and it works against the design of the building. She added that it’s such a strong building that the landscape architecture needs to be equally strong.
Commissioner Bihan agreed that the architecture and the planting have conflicting goals. He added that the living roof focuses on a micro scale while the waves are a macro idea.
Commissioner Bihan suggested that the design team use either the ripple effect, or biodiversity as its theme, but not both. Commissioner Bihan suggested more gravel and fewer plant types. He added that the team should define the planting and paving as part of the architecture.
Commissioner Bihan commented that the roof and the ground planting are two different treatments.
Commissioner Smith added that this type of architecture works well with lots of landscaping. He suggested that they draw in the landscape to consider it with the architecture.
Commissioner Przyblyski commented that if the design team wants people to “see” the ocean, they should feel like they are on the beach, and the plan should use grasses and other plants that will move and respond to the wind.
Ms. Ch’en reminded the Committee that the community and the Department of Recreation and Parks have reviewed the landscape plan.
Commissioner Bihan acknowledged that the design team has accepted input from many communities, and urged them to take a strong and focused direction to create clarity and simplicity in the landscape.
Commissioner Przyblyski asked the design team to return with a revised landscape plan.
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New Business
There was no new business.
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Adjournment: 6:05 p.m.
