How do you transform a manufacturing plant to a K-8 school while maintaining the historical integrity of the building?
How do you transform a manufacturing plant to a K-8 school while maintaining the historical integrity of the building?

San Francisco Friends School Seismic Retrofit

Customized Solution
  • Forell | Elsesser provided structural engineering services for the adaptive re-use of the Levi Strauss Factory Building at 250 Valencia Street in San Francisco, which was originally constructed in 1906 and is recognized by the San Francisco Planning Commission as a Structure of Merit.  The adaptive re-use of this building from a manufacturing building to a private K-8 school was achieved with a seismic retrofit and renovation.
  • The existing, 87,000 s.f. heavy-timber structure was laterally reinforced with steel braced frames and collectors.  The existing brick footings were replaced with a concrete mat slab and grade beams.
  •  Project challenges include maintaining the historical integrity of the building while adding structural elements and working with many unforeseen existing conditions.
  • The renovated facility includes classrooms, offices, large conference and meeting rooms, parking, and a gymnasium enclosed with new steel roof trusses and metal deck.
CATEGORIES

Academic - Community College, K-12, Historic Renovation


HIGHLIGHTS
  • Architect: Pfau Long Architecture/Page & Turnbull Architects, General Contractor: Plant Construction
  • Owner: San Francisco Friends School
  • Heavy timber structure reinforced with steel braced frames, collectors, and existing brick footings replaced with a concrete mat slab and grade beams.
  • Sustainable features including building and material re-use, thermal towers, and radiant floors resulted in a 2009 Savings by Design Award of Merit.