Best Projects, Renovation/Restoration: Project Preserves Presidio, Adds Seismic Strength
Among the features of the Presidio of San Francisco, a National Historic Landmark, are sandstone, brick and wood Army barracks built in 1895. Many of the buildings' historic interiors were intact, and the Presidio Trust, which planned to renovate the structures, wanted to retain their character. Using innovative materials and engineering, this $20.1-million, LEED-Gold project broke ground in May 2010 and was delivered in August 2011.
Unreinforced masonry buildings with wood floors and trusses can be hazardous during earthquakes, and the project aimed to seismically retrofit the buildings to facilitate leasing the finished spaces to prospective tenants.