SF’s Architectural Centerpiece

Posted on July 8, 2007
Filed Under Uncategorized |

The new Federal Building on Seventh and Mission in San Francisco is an amazing architectural achievement, one that not only pushes the design element but does so while achieving new heights for what it means to be green in modern office building design.

While there are complaints from workers, this is to be expected with any structure that pushes the envelope as far as this one does and none of the complaints that have been voiced do not have remedies. New buildings have quirks and kinks, it takes a few months to shake them out.

The other interesting story here is how the architect, Thomas Mayne, was only able to design this building because the Federal government is exempted from local zoning and design boards. In other words, if the Federal government had to enter the time capsule that San Francisco’s planning department lives in, well we would have had a building that looks exactly like the U.S. Court of Appeals across the street and built in 1905.

Of course, barring another Beaux-Arts style monstrosity, we could have the benefit of the other preoccupation SF’s planners hold, glass and steel, because well the world certainly needs another one of these.

>

Powered by Qumana

Comments

  • Feeds