MEETING OF THE CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, March 16, 2015
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes
 

Committee Chair Cass Calder Smith called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Cass Calder Smith, Chair
   Dorka Keehn
   Kimberlee Stryker
   Paul Woolford
   Kathrin Moore, ex officio
    
   Commissioners Absent
   Roberto Ordeñana
    
   Staff Present
   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 Airport, Terminal 1: Introductory Presentation
   Reuben Halili, Project Manager, San Francisco International Airport
    
   The team presented the project, reviewing the history of the site, and the scope and timeline for the project, including Civic Design Review phases. They explained which firms would be responsible for various parts of the overall project under the Construction Manager/General Contractors (“CMGC”) plan.
    
   Ms. Manton added that she has been in a constructive dialogue with Airport staff to ensure timely review at all phases.
    
   The Committee was concerned that the team develop and express an overarching design philosophy, or a “master plan,” so that the various structures, built by different firms over several years, are unified in the end. The team discussed the centrality of the guest experience in guiding the design.
    
   The Committee also discussed the temporary terminal which will be built to allow the terminal to keep operating during the renovation; Ms. Manton explained that while temporary projects under two years are not subject to Civic Design Review, this interim terminal will be in operation for about four years and thus will be reviewed by this Committee. Commissioner Keehn added that the Visual Arts Committee has discussed temporary artwork for the terminal; Ms. Manton added that the overall project will generate more than $20 million in public art funds.
    
   There was no public comment, and there was no motion.
    
   The Committee took the next item out of order.
    
4. Chinatown Station Plaza, Central Subway Project: Phase 2
   Aileen Read, Project Manager, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
   Mona Tamari, Project Architect, Kwan Henmi Architects
   Jane Wang, Program Manager, Project Development, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
    
   The design team presented the project, which was at 65% design stage, and discussed prior reviews by community representatives, the Mayor’s office and other stakeholders. The team discussed the site and surrounding buildings, reporting that they had completed a wind study and that Urban Forestry had reviewed the tree plan; they added that there will be no trees on Stockton Street. They reviewed the design of the plaza, including plantings, discussing how they addressed community priorities, and they showed material samples. They also described how they worked with artist Tomie Arai to integrate the materials and colors with her artwork for the plaza.
    
   The Committee discussed the project, including the concession signage, lighting, the calligraphy on the wall at the top of the staircase and the door next to it, seating, and accessibility for elders and disabled visitors.
    
   Public Comment:
   Tan Chow, of the Chinatown Community Development Center, said that the community was very excited about this plaza, and sees it as a new third gateway to Chinatown. He said that San Francisco had the oldest Chinatown, and the plaza is centrally located in a historic area on the main corridor of Stockton Street. He described the robust input from the community, including key stakeholders and leaders, with at least fifty meetings. He looked forward to ironing out the details on maintenance and other issues. He thanked the City and the design team, acknowledging their work as respectful partners.
    
   There was no further public comment.
    
    
   The Committee further discussed the project in detail.
    
   The Committee recommended removing the concession signage from the surface of the building; making the stairway lighting more uniform and even for safety; investigating a more contemporary, linear or streamlined LED light fixture in the station ceiling, and more contemporary lighting design overall; investigating options for the wall next to the church windows; investigating options for the treatment of the calligraphy couplet, moving it away from the blind door; ensuring that the blind door is appropriately detailed; considering the use of an integral color material for the gate rather than a stained surface; using a matte or semigloss finish on the support columns for the trellis; testing the furniture to be sure it is safe and accessible for elderly visitors or those using canes or walkers; resolving the number and location of the star-shaped benches to facilitate conversational groups. They also requested renderings showing the gate open and closed at the next review.
    
   There was no further public comment, and there was no motion.
    
5. Moccasin Building 76: Phase 1
   Janet Ng, Project Manager, San Francisco Water
   Paul Travis, Project Architect, Department of Design and Construction, San Francisco Public Works
   
Edward Chin, Landscape Architect, Department of Design and Construction, San Francisco Public Works
   Karyn Shore, Senior Designer/Architect, Department of Design and Construction, San Francisco Public Works
    
   The team began their presentation by noting that plans had been scaled back after the Rim Fire. They presented the project, reviewing the site at the foot of Hetch Hetchy, and the context, including existing structures. They discussed the scope of the project and its goals and challenges. The team presented the proposed building, which will have a variety of uses over time, with amenities including lockers, showers and three break rooms at one end.
    
   The Committee discussed the project in detail, including sustainability issues, potential solar arrays and LEED certification, planting to mitigate radiant heating from the surrounding asphalt, column spacing, and possible roof, window and door treatments.
    
   They praised the project designers for their good work, and liked the project overall, including the materials and the arcade, as well as the hand-drawn drawings, and observed that this minimalist utilitarian structure could end up being quite beautiful.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Moccasin Building 76 Project.
    
6. Visual Arts Committee Update
   There was no report, and no public comment.
    
7. Staff Report
   There was no report, and no public comment.
    
8. New Business and Announcements
   The Commission discussed the possibility of evaluating some of the projects they have reviewed, once they are constructed, with an eye toward improving the review process.
    
   There was no public comment.
    
9. Adjournment
   There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
    

   posted 3/27/15, 4:30 p.m., spr
   approved 4/6/15

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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.