The Center for Architecture + Design and AIA San Francisco Headquarters creates a dialogue between the newly-exposed cathedral-like concrete structure of the historic Building and finely crafted insertions, ultimately creating a Center that raises public awareness of all aspects of design.

Designed to advance a public dialogue about art, architecture, design, and the built environment, the new AIA San Francisco and the Center for Architecture + Design headquarters are catalyzing the reoccupation of San Francisco’s urban core. In moving to the storefront of the landmark Hallidie Building, both non-profits sought to extend their reach beyond the architectural community.  The client-architect team profoundly extroverted the program to include a café, gallery, lecture hall, and public meeting rooms, in addition to the non-profits’ headquarters. 

By exposing the historic structure and selectively introducing refined sculptural insertions that both complement and juxtapose the original building, the interior architecture embodies the rich multidisciplinary design culture of the region. 

Accretive finishes were removed to expose the raw concrete ceiling and columns of the deep, cathedral-like space. New elements reinforce the primacy of the concrete shell, with the lecture hall volume set within between columns and felt acoustic baffles mirroring the rhythm of the concrete ceiling ribs. The selective addition of a raised concrete floor mitigates the level change that originally bifurcated the space, encouraging fluid movement and gathering.  Light from a skylight rakes over a living wall at the far end of the space; visible from the entry, it acts as a biophilic beacon in an urban environment, encouraging visitors to experience the Center.

As part of a large barn raising effort, the design team recruited elite artisans and makers to donate their work to the Center, showcasing a range of design disciplines while achieving an unusually rigorous level of craft for a non-profit institution. By highlighting many design disciplines, the Center is raising the region’s cultural awareness of all aspects of design for all demographics.