When the San Francisco Chronicle built its office and operations in 1924, the 4-acre site in the South of Market area was a mix of industrial warehouses, shipping facilities, and housing for rail and port laborers. Today, this site sits at the intersection of the expanding downtown and an eclectic multicultural neighborhood of artists, families, seniors, manufacturing, retail and tech.
Through a unique approach to its design and operations, the project envisions building a place that facilitates greater social and professional exchange—a connected urban platform.
As a first phase, the project brought together a series of businesses and non-profits to cultivate creative exchange and anchor the future vision of the place—including a making and prototyping facility, a co-working space, and a community gallery. By fostering connections with community organizations focused on programming, art, and user-driven events, the completed Phase One repositioned existing historic buildings as catalysts for inclusive growth.
The mixed-use plan for Phase Two transforms the surface parking lots and characteristic alleyways around the historic buildings to create a central public space, framed with new housing, office, and retail uses. The plan will create an inclusive and eclectic gathering place amid the density of downtown.
The ground floor is designed to house neighborhood-serving retail, local artisans, artists, makers, non-profits, entrepreneurs, cafes, and restaurants. Outside, fairs, food trucks, informal concerts, and evening films will populate a public environment that will serve the wider neighborhood.
Credits:
- SITELAB urban studio - Leah Nichols
- Tom Leader Studio - Landscape Architecture
- SITELAB urban studio - Laura Crescimano
- KPF - Master Architect
- SITELAB urban studio - Urban Design Lead
- Brookfield Properties - Client