This is a conversion of the old P.E. O'Hare plumbing warehouse into office space. Located in the SOMA neighborhood of San Francisco, this was one of the first conversions in this part of the city, and began what is now a complete transition from a light manufacturing area to a digital/ high-tech center.
In our remodel and addition of a 3rd floor it was our aspiration to come up with a design that honored and celebrated the classic industrial character of the original building. On the first two floors we fought to retain the original steel industrial sash windows - which contribute so much to the scale of these buildings. So many old concrete warehouses have been ruined by the introduction of poorly proportioned aluminum storefront. On the new third floor we designed a full height glazed wall, but then held it back 8 feet from the original façade, emphasizing the difference in transparency and detail, and creating a clear delineation between old and new. On the back, we reroofed the old loading dock with translucent corrugated roofing to create a dramatic new entry. And inside, we left the concrete structure of the columns, walls, and ceilings exposed. We even used the old freight elevator shaft, with some of the original machinery exposed, as the new building entry - a dramatic three story shaft of light embellished with elements of the industrial archeology of its past.
Client: Union Property Capital and Levin, Menzies, Kelly
Project Lead: Kathy Hancox and Shawn Fritz
