MEETING OF THE CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, June 15, 2015
2:30 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes
 

Committee Chair Cass Calder Smith called the meeting to order at 2:37 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Cass Calder Smith, Chair
   Dorka Keehn
   Kimberlee Stryker
   Paul Woolford
    
   Commissioners Absent
   Roberto Ordeñana
   Kathrin Moore, ex officio
    
   Staff Present
   Tom DeCaigny, Director of Cultural Affairs
   Jill Manton, Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives
   Sharon Page Ritchie, Commission Secretary
    
2. Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
3. San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”) Fire House #3: Conceptual Presentation
   Derrick Homer, Project Manager, San Francisco International Airport
   Alan Kawasaki, Architect, Shah Kawasaki Architects
   Adrienne Wong, Landscape Architect, AWA Landscape Architects
    
   The design team presented the project, reviewing the context and site conditions, including the airport’s existing neutral palette, blast fences and the adjacent freeway.
    
   They presented preliminary drawings showing their intended design direction. They reviewed their accelerated schedule, with the goal of opening the building at the end of October, 2016.
    
   The Committee discussed the proposed timing of reviews and thought it would be better to have Phase 1, 2 and 3 reviews separately at closer intervals rather than combining two phases in a single review.
    
   The Committee also discussed landscaping, pointing out the value of some plantings to soften the building, and asking the team to consider stormwater management. The Committee added that drought-tolerant but not necessarily native plants might be appropriate in this setting, where habitat maintenance is not a significant issue. The Committee also recommended planning outdoor space for the firefighters’ use.
    
   Additionally, the Committee asked about planning for sea-level rise, requesting an update from the Airport.
    
   Public Comment:
   A speaker said that this relatively small project shouldn’t hold up the overall multibillion-dollar airport renovation project.
    
   There was no further public comment, and there was no motion.
    
4. San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”) Interim Boarding Area B: Phases 1 and 2
   Tania Gharechedaghy, Project Manager, San Francisco International Airport
   Jeff Mangels, Architect, Corgan Architects
    
   The team presented the project, describing its scope and where it fits in the overall renovation of the Airport Terminal 1. This temporary boarding area will be used for three years during construction of the permanent terminal, and then be demolished.
    
   The team presented study models and material samples. They discussed the context and the design goals and considerations.
    
   The Committee discussed the project, complimenting the team on their overall approach to the design. They discussed the materials and glazing.
    
   Commissioner Keehn noted that the overall project will generate $20 million for public art, and said the Visual Arts Committee and staff were considering both temporary artwork, and the possibility of commissioning permanent artwork that could be relocated later.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phases 1 and 2 of the San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”) Interim Boarding Area B project, contingent upon: (1) minimizing the coping flashing at the roof and (2) eliminating the “storefront” of the window head sill jambs, with a flush veneer.
    
5. Treasure Island Signage Master Plan: Informational Presentation
   Bob Beck, TIDA Project Manager, Treasure Island Development Authority
   Julian Pancoast, TICD Project Manager, Lennar
   Kevin Conger, Landscape Architect, CMG Site
   Wayne Hunt, Hunt Design
    
   The team briefly described the relationship of the various parties and public authorities. They gave a brief overview of the streetscape plan and presented the signage master plan, and discussed the review schedule.
    
   The Committee asked about the relationship between the street signage and park signage. They also asked staff to clarify the Arts Commission’s role regarding the design of the parks.
    
   The team described the site and the scope of the project, as well as the development phases, beginning with the southern corner of Treasure Island, and then all of Yerba Buena Island.
    
   The team reviewed some of the projects that Hunt Design has worked on, including signage for the National Mall, the Golden Gate Recreational Area and Alcatraz. They discussed their approach to the signage plan and the factors involved, including the variety of people, modes of transportation, destinations and types of information. They presented the palette, materials and typefaces.
    
   In response to a question from the Committee, the team said that ferries were expected to run twenty minutes apart, with the trip to San Francisco taking thirteen minutes.
    
   The Committee discussed the project in detail, including lighting, the relationship between the backs of signs and public art, the possibility of using recycled materials and special paving in conjunction with some of the signage. The Committee also asked about zoned design at the neighborhood level; the team reported that residents preferred a more unified approach.
    
   The Committee praised the design as streamlined and elegant.
    
   There was no public comment, and there was no motion.
    
6. Possible Design Projects for Inclusion in Civic Design Review Guidelines
   Ms. Manton reviewed submissions for several projects at different phases of review which she proposed as examples for the Civic Design Review Guidelines of how a project should be presented at each stage.
    
   The Committee discussed the presentations in detail and made several suggestions.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
7. New Business and Announcements
   There was no new business or announcements, and no public comment.
    
8. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m.
    

   posted 6/26/15, 4:15 p.m., spr
   approved 7/6/15
    

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   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, 415-252-2585, 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, 415-252-2585, 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, 415-252-2585, 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, 415-252-2585, jill.manton@sfgov.org.