New Exploratorium

San Francisco, CA

The new home for the children’s museum along the San Francisco waterfront included the seismic retrofit of the historic steel frame Pier 15 buildings and the concrete pier substructure, built in 1931, and tenant improvements to the Pier 17 building built in 1912. The project provides approximately 300,000 sf of program space, including a 50,000 sf new mezzanine for exhibits, offices, and museum support. Retrofit solutions included new piles, repair of deteriorated concrete piles, and seismic strengthening of existing steel trusses and wood roof diaphragms.

Photographer: Bruce Damonte

“The restoration and transformation of Pier 15 into the new home of the Exploratorium is a terrific achievement inside and out.” — John King, San Francisco Chronicle

SIZE
300,000 sf
CERTIFICATIONS
LEED Platinum
AWARDS

SEAONC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Excellence, Retrofit/Alteration, 2013
SEAOC Excellence in Structural Engineering, Award of Merit, Landmark, 2013
ENR California 2013 Top Green Project of Northern California
AIA SF Design Awards 2015, Special Commendation
2013 Sustainable Engineering Project of the Year – American Society of Civil Engineers, San Francisco Section
California Preservation Foundation Design Award, 2014

KEY INFO

1,100 pilings repaired

Retrofit solutions

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Ferry Building logo.

Leavening peerless structural engineering skill with humor, philosophy, people skills and, above all, a consummate understanding of San Francisco's permitting process, [Alan] saw this project through.