San Francisco Center for Sustainability
Masters thesis project for Academy of Art University: a redesign of the Metreon building in San Francisco, transforming it into the San Francisco Center for Sustainability. For the complete thesis summary, renderings, sketches and materials please click here.
The Metreon was built by Sony in 1999 to be technology showcase and “building of the future”. The 350,000 square-foot complex failed quickly and now, only ten years later, is practically empty except for an AMC theater and a mediocre food court. My project brings the concept of a building of the future into the new century where the key word in our vision of the future is “sustainability”.
A sustainable future is about more than just LEED certified architecture; for our society to be sustainable we must examine how new technologies are affecting our inter-personal relationships and our interaction with the physical world. The San Francisco Center for Sustainability is designed to promote a lively local community that ties into the cultural activities in the surrounding area. It will also be a tourist destination that embodies the spirit of the city and its future.
FUNCTIONAL AND VISUAL CONCEPTS
The original Metreon was designed to be a place where visitors can’t tell where entertainment stops and retail begins. The new San Francisco Center for Sustainability is designed as an interactive art experience where people can’t tell where the art ends and "real life" begins. Participation art could be considered the future of fine art (even though it has already been developing for four decades). Interactive public art is becoming more
common in interior design as a way for people to feel involved with the space and excited to be there. I designed the SFCS to be a major art opportunity where interactive art is part of the functionality of the space.
The visual themes of the SFCS are inspired by biophilic design principles. The Center looks and acts like a futuristic forest with bustling activity and habitat-like spaces on the first floors and airy, canopy-like spaces towards the top of the building.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
The image below is an overview of the green systems in the building. The left side of the diagram represents South and is mainly focused on sun control for heat and light. Four living columns in the main atrium run through the entire building and work as grey water filtration systems. Photovoltaic panels generate power on the roof, while hydronic panels help heat water. Living walls on the exterior help with insulation of the building and create new animal habitats.
Much of the heating in the building will become radiant floor heating for maximum efficiency and maintaining heat at the human level within the very tall spaces. Possibly the most important element of efficient design in a building of this size is energy data collection: gathering as much detailed information about the building as possible through the placement of sensors. The building’s systems can then be controlled centrally in order to maximize efficient energy use.
The second image is an analysis of potential rainwater catchment in comparison with how much fresh water SFCS would use according to my programming.
BUILDING SECTION, SAMPLE FLOOR PLAN, 3D MODEL
MAIN ATRIUM
The main atrium is the heart of the San Francisco Center for Sustainability. It feels like a futuristic forest that extends from the ground all the way to the roof of the building. Two different sets of stairs move up through the space replacing the former escalators. People can’t wait to climb these stairs because as soon as they step on them, a rainbow ripples away from their feet. Fiber optics in the floors seem to chase you as you walk around, and light dances through the beautifully organic translucent columns. It feels as if the building is alive and aware of your presence.
GOOD COMPANY RESTAURANT
This diner-inspired restaurant will bring people together, but in different ways than burger-joints did in the 1950’s. Each of Good Company’s tables is an interactive projection screen that diners use to view the menu, order food directly, and connect to other tables. A jukebox app lets people add songs to the queue. “Paper Airplane” lets people message other tables. The “Placemat” app adds the last element in turning the entire restaurant into a participation art piece. “Placemat” is a drawing application in which virtual crayons (in thousands of colors) can be used to create works of art on each table. Art pieces are then submitted into the restaurant’s network and displayed on the chandelier screens and wall projections.
FLOAT: DESIGNER GREEN RETAIL
The main feature of the Float store is the ceiling art, an installation art piece by Tara Donovan made of styrofoam cups. In this setting, the ceiling paired with a recycled rubber floor represents the melting away of our old materials and production processes to make way for new sustainable designs. This store features limited edition items by artists and designers created from recycled objects and repurposed materials for a high-design sustainable lifestyle.
NEXT: SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION CENTER
This three-level space is the center of sustainable activity in the San Francisco Center for Sustainability. The center welcomes people of all ages and levels of knowledge about sustainable living. The first level of NEXT (on the second floor of the building) houses a library lounge area where people can spend time browsing books and educating themselves.
There are also rotating exhibits on local companies, new products, and ways to get involved in the San Francisco green community. The two upper floors house modular classrooms that may be rented for a variety of educational purposes. Roof access from the top floor leads to the edible gardens and a model green home open for touring.
ANAN RESTAURANT
In the top corner of the San Francisco Center for Sustainability, an ethereal dining experience awaits. It feels timeless - not quite the past, and not fully in the future, somewhere in-between. Lush cork and artistically finished metals bring an organic luxury to the space. Most mysteriously, a cloud full of what look like stars sits happily inside the expansive space as if clouds were always indoors.
Anan means mother in Mutsun, the native language spoken in the San Juan Batista mission. “Anan” echoes the past of the city and this site, and gives a foundation to build a future on. The restaurant feels both nostalgic and antique but also modern through the use of materials.
The design is inspired by looking at stars through a forest canopy. This is the topmost space in SFCS so it should feel the most airy and connected to the sky.
Want to see more? Check out the whole book.
The Metreon was built by Sony in 1999 to be technology showcase and “building of the future”. The 350,000 square-foot complex failed quickly and now, only ten years later, is practically empty except for an AMC theater and a mediocre food court. My project brings the concept of a building of the future into the new century where the key word in our vision of the future is “sustainability”.
A sustainable future is about more than just LEED certified architecture; for our society to be sustainable we must examine how new technologies are affecting our inter-personal relationships and our interaction with the physical world. The San Francisco Center for Sustainability is designed to promote a lively local community that ties into the cultural activities in the surrounding area. It will also be a tourist destination that embodies the spirit of the city and its future.
FUNCTIONAL AND VISUAL CONCEPTS
The original Metreon was designed to be a place where visitors can’t tell where entertainment stops and retail begins. The new San Francisco Center for Sustainability is designed as an interactive art experience where people can’t tell where the art ends and "real life" begins. Participation art could be considered the future of fine art (even though it has already been developing for four decades). Interactive public art is becoming more
common in interior design as a way for people to feel involved with the space and excited to be there. I designed the SFCS to be a major art opportunity where interactive art is part of the functionality of the space.
The visual themes of the SFCS are inspired by biophilic design principles. The Center looks and acts like a futuristic forest with bustling activity and habitat-like spaces on the first floors and airy, canopy-like spaces towards the top of the building.
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
The image below is an overview of the green systems in the building. The left side of the diagram represents South and is mainly focused on sun control for heat and light. Four living columns in the main atrium run through the entire building and work as grey water filtration systems. Photovoltaic panels generate power on the roof, while hydronic panels help heat water. Living walls on the exterior help with insulation of the building and create new animal habitats.
Much of the heating in the building will become radiant floor heating for maximum efficiency and maintaining heat at the human level within the very tall spaces. Possibly the most important element of efficient design in a building of this size is energy data collection: gathering as much detailed information about the building as possible through the placement of sensors. The building’s systems can then be controlled centrally in order to maximize efficient energy use.
The second image is an analysis of potential rainwater catchment in comparison with how much fresh water SFCS would use according to my programming.
BUILDING SECTION, SAMPLE FLOOR PLAN, 3D MODEL
MAIN ATRIUM
The main atrium is the heart of the San Francisco Center for Sustainability. It feels like a futuristic forest that extends from the ground all the way to the roof of the building. Two different sets of stairs move up through the space replacing the former escalators. People can’t wait to climb these stairs because as soon as they step on them, a rainbow ripples away from their feet. Fiber optics in the floors seem to chase you as you walk around, and light dances through the beautifully organic translucent columns. It feels as if the building is alive and aware of your presence.
GOOD COMPANY RESTAURANT
This diner-inspired restaurant will bring people together, but in different ways than burger-joints did in the 1950’s. Each of Good Company’s tables is an interactive projection screen that diners use to view the menu, order food directly, and connect to other tables. A jukebox app lets people add songs to the queue. “Paper Airplane” lets people message other tables. The “Placemat” app adds the last element in turning the entire restaurant into a participation art piece. “Placemat” is a drawing application in which virtual crayons (in thousands of colors) can be used to create works of art on each table. Art pieces are then submitted into the restaurant’s network and displayed on the chandelier screens and wall projections.
FLOAT: DESIGNER GREEN RETAIL
The main feature of the Float store is the ceiling art, an installation art piece by Tara Donovan made of styrofoam cups. In this setting, the ceiling paired with a recycled rubber floor represents the melting away of our old materials and production processes to make way for new sustainable designs. This store features limited edition items by artists and designers created from recycled objects and repurposed materials for a high-design sustainable lifestyle.
NEXT: SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION CENTER
This three-level space is the center of sustainable activity in the San Francisco Center for Sustainability. The center welcomes people of all ages and levels of knowledge about sustainable living. The first level of NEXT (on the second floor of the building) houses a library lounge area where people can spend time browsing books and educating themselves.
There are also rotating exhibits on local companies, new products, and ways to get involved in the San Francisco green community. The two upper floors house modular classrooms that may be rented for a variety of educational purposes. Roof access from the top floor leads to the edible gardens and a model green home open for touring.
ANAN RESTAURANT
In the top corner of the San Francisco Center for Sustainability, an ethereal dining experience awaits. It feels timeless - not quite the past, and not fully in the future, somewhere in-between. Lush cork and artistically finished metals bring an organic luxury to the space. Most mysteriously, a cloud full of what look like stars sits happily inside the expansive space as if clouds were always indoors.
Anan means mother in Mutsun, the native language spoken in the San Juan Batista mission. “Anan” echoes the past of the city and this site, and gives a foundation to build a future on. The restaurant feels both nostalgic and antique but also modern through the use of materials.
The design is inspired by looking at stars through a forest canopy. This is the topmost space in SFCS so it should feel the most airy and connected to the sky.
Want to see more? Check out the whole book.