A renovation of an existing 8-story and adjacent 2-story concrete building into 25 condominiums - ranging from 600 sf studio units to the 3000 sf 4-bedroom penthouse. The buildings, originally constructed in 1924, were originally warehouses for the Hales Brothers Department Store and most recently served as a SFFD firehouse. The buildings are listed as historic, so very few exterior alterations were permitted. The existing steel industrial window sashes were refurbished, although a new ground floor façade (replacing the fire truck doors) and new balconies were allowed.
The entry on Mint Street curves past a two-story restaurant space to the vertical circulation. Residences are located on the second through ninth floors. The units have open plans with the kitchens opening onto the living room and dining room. The bedrooms are separated with custom sliding glass partitions which help to enforce the openness of the space. The roof level has a roof deck/garden with an indoor fitness center and a custom spa.
The materials throughout the space blend the historic character of the building with the new modern update. Exposed concrete walls and columns are maintained in some areas, while others have a plaster finish. The industrial feel of the existing steel sash windows and the exposed concrete are juxtaposed against frameless wood cabinetry, epoxy sealed concrete floors, granite countertops, stainless sinks and bath tubs. For the parking, a fully automated 12 level parking lift was built as an addition to the back of the 2-story building - the first deployment of this type of system in San Francisco.
Client: Martin Building Company
Project Lead: Jennifer Brodie
Contractor: Martin Building Company
Photographer: Rien van Rijthoven Architecture Photography
