A mix of twenty local and internationally renowned firms have been invited to participate in a design competition seeking “creative and practical design concepts” on thirteen acres of prime waterfront real estate at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco. Although mostly comprised of parking lots and former military buildings, the site attracts nearly one million annual visitors with its stellar views, cultural events, historic background and well-respected restaurant.
Depending on who accepts the challenge, local firms may compete with big names such as James Corner Field Operations, SANAA, Studio Gang Architects and BIG.
Continue reading after the break for more.
The nonprofit Fort Mason Center is a complex of renovated military buildings located on part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Three large warehouses and five early 20th century Mission Revival buildings, amid 437 parking spaces, host a variety of cultural activities and serves as a home for a number of arts-related nonprofit organizations. Due to serving as a major embarkation site during World War II, the site also includes several exhibition spaces.
The competition seeks to activate the westernmost Pier One, a two-story structure that has sat mostly vacant since 1960s, and explore how the center can attract more people and encourage them to linger.
All interested invitees have been asked to submit a written statement of interest and qualifications by June 15. Three firms will be selected to participate in a formal competition and will each receive $20,000 to develop their vision. The competition will conclude in an October with an exhibition of proposals and an announcement of the winner.
Other invitees include Hood Studio (Oakland), EHDD Architecture (SF), Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects (SF), Conger Moss Guillard (SF) and SWA (SF).
The jury is comprised of two local designers, landscape architect Andrea Cochran and ROMA Design Group’s Bonnie Fisher; Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan; GGNRA Superintendent Frank Dean; and Mark Buell, who is chairman of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and president of the city’s Recreation and Park Commission.
For more, check out the original article by John King at SFGate.
Photo by Flickr user Sean Munson, licensed through Creative Commons.
