MEETING OF THE CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION

Monday, February 12, 2018
2:00 p.m.
401 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 125

Minutes

Commissioner Kimberlee Stryker called the meeting to order at 2:05 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Kimberlee Stryker
   Lydia So
   Abby Schnair
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Dorka Keehn
   Paul Woolford
   
   Staff Present
   Aleta Lee, Program Associate, Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives
   Jill Manton, Director, Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives
    
2. Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
3. Consent Calendar
   There was no public comment, and the Consent Calendar was unanimously approved as follows:
   A. Motion to approve the Tompkins Stair Project located on Tompkins Avenue and Putnam Street in Bernal Heights which consists of colored tile pattern on the stair risers and an adjacent landscape plan.
    
4. Stevenson Street Improvements: Phase #1, #2, and #3
   Mildred Howard, Project Designer, Exploratorium
   Kristin Gonsar, Project Manager, 70 Mission Co.
   Hugh Hynes, Architect, Proto Inc.
   Cliff Lowe, Landscape Architect, Cliff Lowe Associates
   
   The design team presented the project, a streetscape improvement plan in collaboration with artist, Mildred Howard. The team reviewed the location context, existing site photos, proposed site plan, concept renderings of Stevenson Street artwork and streetscape, as well as Stevenson Plaza seating and guardrail. The project includes artist-designed streetlights, inset poetry on the sidewalk and benches, bollards, and new landscaping. Eight new trees and a green wall would be introduced into the landscape. The tree species selected was the Gingko Biloba Princeton Sentry to bring color to the alleyway. The team shared the poem, “Rainy Night on Stevenson Street,” by Katherine Smith which would be inset into the sidewalk and benches of the project site. Lastly, the team showcased the material palette, plant palette, and hardscape materials.
   
   The Committee commended the team on creating a vibrant streetscape. The Committee expressed their concern about the issue of skateboarders with the inset text on the benches and the potential bleeding of color from the Corten steel on to the pavement. The team shared that the text on the benches would be raised to insure that the inset letters would deter skateboarders. As for the Corten steel, the team said they could pre-age the material to prevent the possibility of pavement coloring. The Committee also suggested exploring the use of permeable paving with SFPUC. The motion was unanimously approved.
   
   There was no further public comment.
   
   Motion to approve Phase #1, #2, and #3 of the Stevenson Street Improvements Project.
    
5. SEP Power Feed and Primary Switchgear Upgrades Project: Phase #3
   Tiffany Gong/Fara Perez, Project Designer, Public Works
   Roland Sun/Jignesh Desai, Project Manager, SFPUC
   Fara Perez/Mike Pierron, Architect, Public Works
   Lizzy Hirsch/Nick Ancel, Landscape Architect, Public Works
   
   The design team presented the updates to the building structure, in regards to their last review comments. The comments included exploring a full height enclosure of the stairs on the building, moving the entrance door on the main façade of the enclosure to the side panel, and exploring the use of flash metal detail on the roof of the building. The team responded by going with option #2 of the full height enclosure of the stairway and incorporating into the design of the building, moving the entrance door as suggested, and adding a metal coping to the concrete parapet walls. The team also provided renderings and elevations of the building structure to show updates.
   
   The Committee appreciated how the team provided last review’s comments and an explanation of the changes made. The Committee noticed that the glass used for the stair enclosure was different from what was previously presented in the last review. They were concerned since the channel glass proposed was in line with the design elements of the other campus buildings. The design team shared that they were using firegrade wall glass instead of channel glass since it was transparent. They also expressed that this would be the only building that would differ from the other buildings using the channel glass design element. The motion was unanimously approved.
   
   There was no further public comment.
   
   Motion to approve Phase #3 of the SEP Power Feed and Primary Switchgear Upgrades Project.
    
6. 1550 Evans Southeast Community Center Project: Phase #1
   Greta Jones, Project Designer, Public Works
   Shelby Campbell, Project Manager, SFPUC
   Reggie Stump/Fara Perez, Architect, Public Works
   Rob Tidmore, Landscape Architect, Public Works
   
   The design team reviewed the location, neighborhood context, and conceptual schemes last presented. They then presented the concept diagram for the proposed design, the site plan, public art opportunities, planting diagram, and stormwater management. The team described how they would address the edges of the campus, including an updated berm for decreasing noise pollution, proposed fencing for security, and ideas of a campus gateway to welcome and direct users to the site. They expressed that the gateway element would have design components that would relate to the building and its canopy. It would also be a possible public art opportunity. The team went on to share their research in developing a design language for the building .They looked for multi-cultural pattern expressions relevant to the community and made four initial studies. Through community feedback, the team learned that the fins and screen patterns were most preferred. These two options were further explored through views, solar studies, and finding precedents. Lastly, the team showcased the two different versions of building elevations with the specified pattern.
   
   The Committee thought the team did a great job on the project so far. As a southwest facing structure, the Committee was concerned about the large amount of sunlight that the structure would receive; especially as much of the façade consisted of glass. The Committee also asked the team to further develop the sun screen and canopy design, as they felt it could be more phenomenal. The Committee commented that the large gateway proposed and the lightweight fence treatment did not really match. They asked that the team look at how the elements of the berm, fencing, gateway, and topography all come together. The Committee asked the team also provide sections in the next review and to show elevations of the fencing and topography. Lastly, the Committee and the design team discussed the current state of the “India Basin Park” signage. The team shared that it was currently looking into costs of possibly moving it. They understand that this signage is big challenge and are working to address it.
   
   There was no further public comment.
   
   Motion to approve Phase #1 of the Southeast Plant Health Center Expansion Project contingent upon 1) a deep study of the gateway entrance that include section illustrations and 2) to refine and simplify the building facade, especially how it relates to the sun and use of glass, and 3) implementing rhythm to refine the massive rectangular building facade.
    
7. Visual Arts Committee Update
   There was no Visual Arts Committee report.
    
8. Staff Report
   Jill Manton wanted to ensure Commissioners are receiving informal notes for projects. It was agreed during the meeting that informal notes would now be sent out the week of the informal, as well as with the agenda each month.
    
9. New Business and Announcements
   Commissioner Lydia So provided a report back on her experience so far in working with the Mayor of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) in their architectural review process. She is planning to send a memo to document the process and findings, especially with the large time commitment it has entailed. With these findings the Committee hopes to work with MOHCD to come up with a more feasible way of the Art Commission’s involvement moving forward.
    
10. Adjournment 
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:55 p.m.
    posted  2/23/18, 3:15 p.m., akl
    approved 3/5/18

Language Accessibility

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2226, jill.manton@sfgov.org.

我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助，Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2226, jill.manton@sfgov.org.

Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2226, jill.manton@sfgov.org.

Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2226, jill.manton@sfgov.org.