A renovation of an eight-story and adjacent two-story concrete building into 25 condominiums - ranging from 600 square foot studio units to a 3,000 square foot 4-bedroom penthouse. The buildings, constructed in 1924, were originally warehouses for the Hale Brothers Department Store and most recently served as a SFFD firehouse. Because the structures are historic, very few exterior alterations were permitted. A new ground floor facade (replacing the fire truck doors) and balconies were allowed. The existing steel industrial sash windows were retained but refurbished.
The entry on Mint Street curves past a two-story restaurant space. Residences are located on the second through ninth floors. The units have open plans with combined kitchens, dining and living rooms. The bedrooms are separated with custom sliding glass partitions which help to reinforce 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. Concrete walls and columns are left exposed 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 two-story building - the first deployment of this type of system in San Francisco.