This project was originally planned as a simple, $150,000 tree nursery with a rehabilitated trailer. But the team significantly expanded the design and function of the space because of the success of San Francisco Public Works in obtaining grants from California Dept. of Transportation (Caltrans), which owns the property, and from the California Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).

Photo courtesy San Francisco Public Works

However, this also created a schedule challenge as the team faced multiple redesigns. The contract for design and interior construction of the modular buildings began in January 2023. Crews broke ground in July, and substantial completion—on time and within budget—followed in November.

Meeting the project’s aggressive schedule was a central challenge, as the team was tasked with completing 9-15 months of work within just four months. The goal was to finish in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which would bring world leaders to San Francisco in November 2023, allowing government leaders to showcase the innovative nursery during the summit.

The only way to make this work was for SFPW and Yerba Buena’s team to design and construct key elements concurrently. After a partnering kickoff meeting on June 27, crews broke ground on July 5, with the entire team aiming to find ways to expedite any aspect of the design that they could.