City and County of San FranciscoSan Francisco Arts Commission
REGULAR CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE

Monday, July 15, 2002


MEETING LOCATION

3:00 p.m.

Suite 70, Conference Room

25 Van Ness Ave.

San Francisco 94102


Explanatory documents are available for public inspection and copying at the Arts Commission office, 25 Van Ness Ave, Ste 240, during regular business hours.



Minutes

The meeting commenced at 3:00 p.m.

  1. Role Call:

    Commissioners present: William Meyer, Stanlee Gatti, Barbara Stauffacher Solomon, Andrea Cochran

    Commissioners absent: Rod Freebairn-Smith

    Staff present: Richard Newirth, Nancy Gonchar, Rommel Taylor

  2. ROCHAMBEAU PLAYGROUND AND CLUBHOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT

    Will Kwan introduced the project team for the renovation of the club house and playground. The architectural design would be presented by Damon Louie and Will Kwan, DPW BOA and the landscape design will be presented by Scott Burbank DPW Landscape Division

    Mr. Kwan explained that the the project would renovate a 1200 square foot clubhouse including ADA upgrades, structural upgrades and various grounds improvements.

    Mr. Burbank explained that the renovation was very straight forward. They would be resurfacing the tennis court and basketball courts, adding picnic tables, new planting at the 25th avenue entry and the 24th avenue entry, new play structures and surfacing, finally a new accessible entry at 24th avenue.

    Mr. Louie explained that the renovation was designed to increase overall functionality. He continued to explain that the the only new architectural element would be a 150 square foot storage addition that would the same architectural style as the original building. The existing bathrooms would be remolded to conform with ADA guidelines.

    Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment.

    Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.

    Commissioner Meyer commented that the design was reasonable. He asked if there had been any community involvement in the design process.

    Mr. Louie responded that there had been community involvement.

    Motion: Meyer
    Vote:
    Unanimous

  3. HARDING PARK AND FLEMING GOLF COURSE RENOVATION
    MAINTENANCE BUILDING AND CLUBHOUSE


    Victor Talatala briefly reviewed the last presentation to the Arts Commission. He introduced the project team, Jorge Guetierrez, DPW BOA and Rick Thall, Landscape Architect. Mr. Talatala explained that they were coming to Civic Design to present revisions made based on the comments of the last Civic Design meeting.

    Mr. Thall presented the landscape design. He explained that the primary concept was to screen the maintenance shed and equipment from view along Lake Merced blvd.

    Victor Talatala presented the material and color scheme for the building. He explained that the colors were selected to complement the natural color scheme of the surrounding landscape.

    Commissioner Meyer opened the floor to public comment.

    Commissioner Meyer closed the floor to public comment.

    Commissioner Cochran commented that he building was fine. She commented on the use of Eucalyptus in a field of pine. She asked if Eucalyptus existed anywhere else around the immediate site.

    Mr. Thall responded that there is Eucalyptus on the other side of the park.

    Commissioner Meyer commented that the building design and color scheme was acceptable. He commented that he would like to see column supports for the roof overhang.

    Mr. Gutierrez commented that the maintenance trucks are parked under the overhang in the evening and that the columns were omitted to make parking easier.

    Mr. Thall introduced the concept for the Clubhouse and surrounding greens. He explained that the clubhouse will be located near the 9th hole and the lake.
    He commented that they would maximize the use of existing trees on the site.

    Mr. Talatala presented the design scheme for the clubhouse building. He explained that the color scheme was selected to be neutral and blend in with the surroundings.

    Commissioner Cochran asked if this scheme had been previously approved by the commission.

    Commissioner Gatti explained that the scheme previously approved by the commission was markedly different. He explained that it was a privately funded project that was a comprehensive master plan for the golf course. This scheme is more incremently.

    Mr. Talatala explained that the previous scheme was privately funded. The scheme they are presenting is a city project with a significantly reduced budget.

    Commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon commented that she liked the color scheme and the use of zinc as a roof material.

    Commissioner Meyer is concerned with the design of the entry to the site. He commented that the approach seemed awkward. He asked if alternative parking configurations had been explored.

    Mr. Thall explained that the entry sequence was design in collaboration with PGA consultants. The overall design was conceived in a way that would be the most convenient to the needs of the golfers.


    Motion: Gatti
    Vote:
    Unanimous

  4. BEACH CHALET REVISED DECK AND IMPROVEMENTS

    Clark Manus, CEO, Heller Manus Architects reviewed the scope of the last presentation to the Civic Design Committee. Mr. Manus explained that today's
    presentation would focus on three revised schemes based on the comments from the last Civic Design Committee meeting. He explained that there are only subtle differences between the three schemes. He explained that the treatment of the columns was the primary design feature that had been studied. Scheme one showed columns design to foster plant growth, scheme two showed fewer columns, simplified in shape and not mimicking the columns at the front of the building, scheme three showed columns with tighter spacing.

    Commissioner Gattis asked when the design became more permanent in character. He commented that it was his understanding that the addition was to be akin to a deck rather than a building.

    Gar Truppelli, Owner, Beach Chalet explained that several design schemes had been explored and the ones presented were stating to satisfy the financial requirements for the restaurant as well as the experiential requirements for their clientele.

    Commissioner Cochran commented that she like the idea of the folding glass doors. She commented that she did not like the freestanding arch in scheme two and felt that the column layout was awkward. Ms. Cochran commented that the top of the columns seemed very heavy. She commented that although the doors fold back, opening the room to the air, the addition still felt like a building.

    Commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon commented that the roof seemed very heavy and that the skylight was not very elegant.

    Commissioner Gatti commented that the skylight would work better if it were flat.

    Commissioner Meyer commented that the color and structure of the horizontal portions of the designs seems too heavy. He commented that he liked the skylights as presented.

    Commissioner Gatti commented that the designs have to much structure, they all feel and look like buildings added to the existing structure.

    Commissioner Gatti suggested that each commissioner itemize the issues that they have with the designs so that the architects have a clear understanding of what to work on.

    Commissioner Meyer commented that he likes the scheme with the wings. Likes the idea of having places for impromptu meetings. He commented that he does not want to see column designs that mimic the columns of the existing building. He commented that he would like to see shallower beam cross sections and more articulated beams. He commented that he was in agreement with the general design scheme.

    Commissioner Stauffacher-Solomon commented that she wanted to see a design scheme more like a greenhouse, light and airy. She commented that she would like to see columns that mimic the columns of the existing building. She commented that the idea of wrapping the columns with some kind of wire mesh to grow plants was a bad idea. She commented that she disliked the transom windows on the folding glass doors

    Commissioner Cochran commented that she liked the side colonnades without the free standing arch feature. She commented that she liked the layering of the folding doors behind the columns. She commented that she would like to see the new columns mimic the columns on the existing building. She commented that the transom window on the folding glass doors should be eliminated.

    Commissioner Gatti commented that the roof structure needed to be lightened up. He commented that he would like to see shallower beam cross sections and more articulated beams. He commented that the new columns should mimic the existing columns. He commented that wrapping the columns in chicken wire was a bad idea and that if plant life was desired it should be naturally growing vines. He commented that he would like to see more design exploration regarding the roof design. He suggested studying the use of glass. He commented that the folding doors should be full height without the transom windows.

  5. Adjournment

    Meeting was adjourned at 5:30 p.m.