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Meeting Information



Civic_Design_Committee

2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 

CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, May 18,  2009
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

Commissioners Present: Topher Delaney, René Bihan, Cass Calder Smith,  Leo Chow

Staff Present:   Jill Manton, Vicky Knoop

Call To Order: 3:05 p.m.

  1. Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library - Phases 1 and 2
    Kacey Jurgens, Project Architect, explained that this is the last library renovation from the 2001 bond. She reminded the Committee that they requested that she present Phase 1 and 2 at this meeting. She gave a brief history of the site and an overview of the project. Since the first Phase 1 review, the entryway on the corner has been pulled back and signage has been added. The interior courtyard has been developed and the landscape simplified with three maples. The expected maintenance will consist of raking leaves. She explained that the exterior terracotta tile is reminiscent of weaving, and that sections of the roof will be planted.

    Ms. Jurgens presented a materials board with samples of the terracotta and colors of the Heath tile.

    Commissioner Delaney questioned the benefit of a green roof on this building. She expressed strong reservations about its maintenance.

    Commissioner Bihan commented that the courtyard doors should open into the building and not onto the courtyard. He gave suggestions for other species of trees for the courtyard that would be more appropriate than Japanese maple.

    Commissioner Smith suggested using the funds from the green roof for glazing on the clerestory. He also said that the corner entry could be stronger without the awning.

    Commissioner Chow commented favorably on the massing and the cutaways in the design, but suggested working on the glass to control daylighting. He also expressed concern over the location of the meeting room door.

    Commissioner Smith commented that the entry could be pulled back a bit to open the corner.

    Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the Bayview/Anna E. Waden Branch Library with the contingency that the revised plant palette, solutions to maintenance of a green roof, and revised design for the corner entry be presented during Phase


  2. Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant - Phase 1
    Ravi Krishnaiah, SFPUC Project Manager, explained that the Sunol Water Treatment plant is located three miles from the Sunol Water Temple with no public access. The structures are canopies that will cover chemical storage tanks. He introduced Kent Ford, Project Architect, DPW BOA.

    Mr. Ford said that the projects all use the same colors and vocabulary based on an existing chloramination building. There are two prefabricated electrical buildings and four canopy structures in three locations. He added that the roofs will be engineered for the future installation of solar panels. He explained that some parts of the open structure will have a woven wire mesh and bird screen.

    Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment.

    Seeing none, Commissioner Smith closed the floor to public comment.

    Commissioner Smith commented that the electrical building should be a clean metal box, and that the concrete isn’t necessary. He added that he likes the standardization of the design.

    Commissioner Chow agreed that the systematic approach to these projects is appreciated and that this line of thinking should be used for other PUC structures.

    Commissioner Bihan commented favorably on the clean straightforward design.

    Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Sunol Valley Water Treatment Plant: Commissioner Delaney

    Vote: Unanimously approved.
     


  3. San Antonio Back-Up Pipeline - Chemical Facility and Electrical Control Building - Phase 1
    Mr. Ford explained that this project is similar to the previously presented Sunol project, and it will use the same materials and color selection. This project will have an electrical room that is not prefabricated.

    Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. Seeing none, he closed the floor to public comment.

    Commissioner Bihan requested more information on the seeding and storm water plan for Phase 2.

    Motion to approve Phase 1 of the San Antonio Back-Up Pipeline: Commissioner Smith

    Vote: Unanimously approved.


     

  4. San Antonio Pump Station - Phase 3
    Mr. Ford presented the revised design for the San Antonio Pump Station. The design reflects the Committee’s Phase 2 recommendations to simplify the patterns on the concrete.

    Commissioner Smith commented that the design doesn’t need the stripes across the front of the building. He added that the concrete should match the existing building.


    Motion to approve Phase 3 of the San Antonio Pump Station with the contingency of removing the stripes and matching the color of the concrete and painted louvers to the existing building: Commissioner Smith

    Vote: Unanimously approved.
     


  5. Harding Park Recycled Water Project - Phases 1 and 2
    Edmund Shum, Project Architect, DPW BOA, presented the site plan for the structures. He explained that the new pump station design reflects the comments made by the Commissioners during the last review.

    Commissioner Smith said that he felt it was a decorative solution and not an architectural solution. He added that he would like to see a more creative approach to the building.

    Commissioner Bihan commented that he wanted the architect to stretch his thinking.

    Commissioner Chow said that the building could have more shape.

    Commissioner Smith suggested being able to see the equipment inside the building though glass block.


  6. La Grande Pump Station - Phase 3
    Bill Bulkley, Landscape Architect, DPW BOE, presented the landscape for the pump station. He explained that he met with maintenance staff and the PUC to discuss the trellises on the façade of the building. The PUC requested that the trellis begin high enough not be an attractive nuisance.

    Commissioner Bihan commented that it was a good solution.

    Commissioner Smith suggested bringing the vertical cables of the trellis lower on the building.

    Motion to approve Phase 3 of the La Grande Pump Station: Commissioner Bihan

    Vote: Unanimously approved.
     


  7. Chinese Recreation Center - Phase 2
    Mary Hobson, Project Director, Recreation and Parks Department, explained that the Chinese Recreation Center is part of the 2008 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks bond. She introduced Mike Pierron, Architect, DPW BOA, Fara Perez, Architect, DPW BOA, and Edward Chin, Landscape Architect, DPW BOE.

    Mr. Pierron explained that the goal of the project is to replace the existing recreation center including the gym, multipurpose room, and playground. He presented the site plan which includes a steep grade, and said that the glass entries in the front and back of the building will maximize light in the building.

    Ms. Perez explained that the new recreation center is a steel frame structure with an exposed concrete base, and is clad in red stucco. She added that the color choice was important to the community.

    Mr. Chin presented the landscape plan and explained that it is a multigenerational space with basketball courts, play spaces for children, and fitness equipment. The selection of the play structures was made to avoid duplicating structures in other playgrounds in Chinatown. He said that the ground plane paving references Chinese ribbon dance, but may be selected as a location for public art.

    Commissioner Smith opened the floor to public comment. Seeing none, he closed the floor.

    Commissioner Bihan commented that the planters along the front seem to disrupt the delicate way the architecture meets the sidewalk.

    Commissioner Chow commented that there is a sense of openness that is lost in the new design. He also said that the building seems to turn its back to the public way along Truett Street, and that windows along that alley would help. In the back of the building, he suggested bringing down the glazing on the wall behind the playground equipment.

    Commissioner Delaney suggested that the playground also offer children the opportunity to interact with nature.

    Commissioner Bihan added that the planting could flow through the space and be integrated into the playground better.

    Mr. Chin explained that there are several playgrounds in Chinatown that focus on interacting with nature. The desire here is to provide a playground with open play spaces and equipment.

    Commissioner Smith commented that the design presented in Phase 1 was much lighter and more open. The new design is heavier and doesn’t look as much like a rec center. He added that the new glass entry lacks the vertical component of the previous design, and preferred the clerestory in the first design. He encouraged the architect to explore the proportion and space of the previous design.


  8. Tesla Treatment Facility – Administrative Phase 3
    Mike Pierron introduced the project and explained the UV chemical treatment that will occur at the facility. He presented the revised design that took the Committee’s comments into consideration and created a clean line across the building with even trellis heights. He introduced Robert La Rocca, Landscape Architect.

    Mr. La Rocca presented the simplified plant palette.

    Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Tesla Treatment Facility: Commissioner Smith

    Vote: Unanimously approved.



  9. Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade - Tunnel Shaft Structures - Phase 3

    Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade Tunnel Shaft Structures: Commissioner Bihan

    Vote: Unanimously approved.


  10. Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade - Pipeline No. 5 - Administrative Phase 3

    Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Bay Division Pipeline Reliability Upgrade Pipeline No. 5: Commissioner Smith

    Vote: Unanimously approved


  11. Calaveras Dam Replacement Project - Dam Crest Electrical Building and Downstream Electrical Building - Administrative Phase 3

    Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Calaveras Dam Replacement Project - Dam Crest Electrical Building and Downstream Electrical Building: Commissioner Smith

    Vote: Unanimously approved.


  12. New Business
    There was no new business.


  13. Adjournment: 6:45  p.m.


    vmk 9/30/09