About BUILDowntownSF
BUILDowntownSF (formerly BuildSF) is an initiative that consists of urban planners, architects, and general contractors committed to revitalizing the public realm and ensuring a vibrant downtown. BUILDowntownSF identifies and rallies behind projects that grow the economy, improve the city’s sustainability, and deliver housing and transportation infrastructure that meets the needs of the growing region.
In 2023, the focus is on our downtown neighborhoods with a goal to collectively restore our economic core. BUILDowntownSF consists of meetings, tours, and activations throughout the year.
Upcoming Events
STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPCOMING BUILDOWNTOWNSF EVENTS
Previous Events
JANUARY 25, 2023: SAN FRANCISCO BUILDING CONVERSION
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | In-Person + Virtual | 235 Montgomery Street, Suite 760
Presenters:
- David Israel, AIA, LEED AP – Principal, BAR Architects & Interiors
- Chris Haegglund AIA, LEED AP – Principal, BAR Architects & Interiors
- Zach Prowda, AIA, LEED AP (Via Zoom) – Associate Principal, BAR Architects & Interiors
Working from home, full or part-time, is a cultural paradigm shift leaving millions of square feet of commercial office space vacant or under-utilized. At the same time, the housing crisis facing the San Francisco Bay Area is dire, challenging our social structure and the area’s economic viability and growth. These two significant headwaters may provide the opportunity for a synergistic solution: converting office buildings into multifamily housing, whether market-rate, affordable or supportive, for rent or for sale.
This interactive session will consider the potential for the adaptive reuse of office building-to-residential and many of the issues that impact their consideration, both positively and negatively. Discussion will include what is needed to convert buildings into housing, and important factors to consider when evaluating office-to-housing conversion. *Attendance is limited, RSVP below to attend.
JANUARY 11, 2023: SAN FRANCISCO PERMIT CENTER TOUR
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | In-Person Tour | 49 South Van Ness
Presenters:
- Carmen Chu, City Administrator
- Katy Tang, Director of the Office of Small Business
- Rebecca Villareal-Mayer, Director of the San Francisco Permit Center
Join us for a presentation and tour of the new San Francisco Permit Center. On the second floor of 49 South Van Ness (49SVN), the new Permit Center provides a centralized place for construction, special events, and business permits. The Permit Center streamlines key services for improving homes and properties, opening and running a business, and planning community events. *Attendance is limited, RSVP below to attend.
DECEMBER 14, 2022: DOWNTOWN RECOVERY
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | In-Person + Virtual | 235 Montgomery Street #760
Speakers:
- Anne Taupier, Director of Development, Office of Economic & Workforce Development
- Rich Hillis, Director of Planning, San Francisco Planning Department
The Covid pandemic has created the largest disruption to the life and economy of downtown San Francisco since the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes. The most significant impact on downtown involves the long-term question of whether workers will return to physical offices – with ripple effects on other sectors such as retail, activation of public space, and transportation patterns. The Planning Department and OEWD are engaged in a coordinated effort across city departments and in partnership with external organizations to assess and address these dynamics, to ensure that downtown San Francisco is more resilient, economically vibrant, and socially inclusive in the future.
NOVEMBER 16, 2022: SAN FRANCISCO WATERFRONT
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | In-Person + Virtual | 235 Montgomery Street #760
Speakers:
- Brad Benson, Waterfront Resilience Director, Port of San Francisco
- AnMarie Rodgers, Director of Citywide Planning, San Francisco Planning Department
- Adam Varat, Waterfront Resilience Program Deputy Program Manager – Planning, Port of San Francisco
San Francisco has always been defined by its relationship to the Bay. Join us for a BuildSF discussion on the future of the San Francisco waterfront as the City plans to adapt to sea level rise and other effects of climate change. Adaptation Strategies are different ways for the City to create a resilient, sustainable, and equitable waterfront for the next 100 years. From these seven strategies, we will identify a preferred approach to reduce flood risks from sea level rise and extreme storms and provide an opportunity to invest in and bring public benefits to San Francisco’s waterfront.
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SEPTEMBER 14TH, 2022: CITY HALL DOME TOUR
11:00 AM | 1 Dr. Carlton B Goodlett Place
Speakers: Rob Reiter, City Hall Building Manager
Join the Chamber of Commerce on a behind-the-scenes tour of San Francisco City Hall’s Dome – only available at the request of elected officials. Known as the People’s Palace, San Francisco City Hall is the seat of government for the City and County of San Francisco. Steel, granite, and four floors of white marble interiors make up San Francisco’s symbol of resilience, built after the previous City Hall was destroyed in the Great Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906. Civic leaders were determined to demonstrate the city’s rebirth in time for the start of the World’s Fair of 1915. Designed by architect Arthur Brown, Jr. and begun in 1913, natives and the world were suitably awed by the gilt exterior detailing, the sweeping grand staircase, and the massive dome. At 307 feet in height, the dome is a full 42 feet taller than the dome of the nation’s capital.
AUGUST 10TH, 2022: 100 STOCKTON STREET
PRESENTATION BY: MORGAN STANLEY
Speakers: Josh Myerberg, Managing Director
The 100 Stockton Street project is a transformative repositioning of the former Macy’s Men’s Store, located steps from iconic Union Square in San Francisco. With eight rentable floors above grade seven stories tall, the existing building was originally designed for a single retail tenant in the early 1970s. With a Brutalist aesthetic and an aging facade, it lacked connectivity with the pedestrian-oriented neighborhood. The project strives to enhance the neighborhood’s vitality and creates a new paradigm for modern building repositioning, through the introduction of a new mixed-use program for multi-tenant retail, workplace, and rooftop hospitality. Drawing from its historical context, the use of traditional proportions, rhythm, and materiality results in a timeless design that will become an icon for the city.
JULY 13, 2022: CENTRAL SUBWAY PROJECT TOUR
PRESENTATION BY: SFMTA
Speakers: Enrique Aguilar, Public Information Officer & Lulu Feliciano, Public Outreach & Engagement Manager
The Central Subway Project will improve public transportation in San Francisco by extending the Muni Metro T Third Line through SoMa, Union Square, and Chinatown. By providing a direct, rapid transit link between downtown and the existing T Third Line route on 3rd Street, the Central Subway will vastly improve transportation to and from some of the city’s busiest, most densely populated areas. When the Central Subway opens in 2022, T Third Line trains will travel mostly underground from the 4th Street Caltrain Station to Chinatown, bypassing heavy traffic on congested 4th and Stockton streets. Four new stations were built along the 1.7-mile alignment.
JUNE 8, 2022: FRANCISCO PARK
Speakers: Cahill Contractors, Casey Kasten, Sr. Project Manager
Cahill Contractors is on the project construction team, while 450 Architects, BFS Landscape Architects, and Sherwood Design Engineers are responsible for the designs. Construction of Francisco Park began in the summer of 2019! The rainwater catchment system has been installed, the convenience/maintenance building is complete, utilities and underground work are completed, retaining walls are in place, grading is finished, and ADA-accessible walkways and railings are installed. In the coming months, we will see the plantings continuing to grow! The park opened officially on April 27, 2022.
MAY 11, 2022: PIER 70
Speakers: Brookfield Properties, Swathi Bonda, Sr. Director of Development & Tim Bacon, Sr. Director of Development
In partnership with the Port of San Francisco, Brookfield Properties is building a very San Francisco place. Pier 70 puts creativity at the center, is open and inviting to all, and which brings people closer to the beautiful San Francisco Bay. Pier 70 will establish a real estate and operational creative platform for innovation and cross-pollination across technology, arts, making, and design to create a best-in-class mixed-use district. Historic Building 12, the creative heart of Pier 70, will provide a unique retail/maker experience. Building 12 sets the tone for Pier 70’s future vertical developments and serves as the primary amenity to attract anchor office users and drive office and residential absorption.
APRIL 13, 2022: DOGPATCH POWER STATION
Speakers: Associate Capital, Enrique Landa, Partner & Tina Chang, Head of Vertical Development
For the first time in 150 years, Dogpatch is reconnecting to the Bay with a reenergized, urban waterfront development. One deeply infused with the neighborhood’s boundary-pushing creativity and masterful craftsmanship. Emerging from Power Station’s shores is a commercial opportunity built for the future needs of your workforce. New construction and rehabilitated buildings are brought to life with flexible spaces created for collaboration. And just outside, active, mixed-use energy and colorful Dogpatch character supports an inspiring workforce lifestyle.
MARCH 9, 2022: SFO COURTYARD CONNECTOR 3 TOUR
Tour Host: HOK
The associate architect to HOK, MEI is providing architecture and design services on the Courtyard 3 Connector project. Located between Terminals 2 and 3, C3C will provide a secure airside connector between the gates at the two terminals. The programed space includes office space, tenant lease spaces, passenger amenities, and lounges as well as other Airport and tenant needs.
