First built in 1906 to manufacture lacquer and paint, this former factory is representative of San Francisco’s reindustrialization following the 1906 earthquake and devastating fire. An adaptive reuse project saved the structure from irreversible deterioration and seismic collapse, transitioning the historic brick building from its heavy industrial roots to modern commercial use upon its completion in June 2023.

Although the building had been modified extensively over the previous century, there were few records available. After gutting the building, the project team uncovered previously hidden areas of the historic structure composed of the original construction materials of brick, wood and steel. Original materials and features were repaired and refurbished where possible, then complemented with 21st-century steel seismic elements, such as braces and diaphragms, along with architectural features, including ridge skylights, perforated metal guard rails and stairs.

A new seismic resisting system features an ultra-stiff moment frame with deep columns and beams. Cross-laminated timber mezzanine floors are structurally suspended from a newly installed steel king post truss, providing a seismically safe and column-free ground floor space. The CLT mezzanine not only facilitates uniform lighting and a polished ceiling finish, but also serves as a bespoke architectural feature. An open center area also allows light from the new skylight to reach the entire lower level.