How do you give new life to an historic brick and timber warehouse building?
How do you give new life to an historic brick and timber warehouse building?

Baker & Hamilton Building (Adobe SF)

Forell | Elsesser Engineers provided complete structural engineering services for the conversion and rehabilitation of this 200,000 s.f. San Francisco historic landmark.
 
Customized Solution
  • The 1905 historic unreinforced brick masonry and wood-framed warehouse building was founded on woodpiles and was converted into commercial office space.  The structural upgrade included the addition of shotcrete walls and steel braced frames, diaphragm strengthening, the addition of sub-diaphragm cross-ties, and masonry wall anchorage.
  • The project also included a new elevator core, ADA upgrades, and modern building systems while preserving and expressing the building’s historic elements. In addition to the seismic upgrade, Forell | Elsesser Engineers provided tenant improvement services for Adobe System’s new headquarters.
  • The large floor plates are subdivided with massive brick bearing walls and structured by a grid of old-growth heavy timber.  At the center of the building is a lightwell around which the plan is organized. This lightwell terminates at the first-floor ceiling into a skylight bringing daylight to the center of the building.
  • The area on the first floor is the company “Town Hall”.  The qualities of light, space, and historic structure and the integration of technology throughout the building facilitate a humane, interactive workplace for Adobe’s employees.
CATEGORIES

Developer/Commercial/Corporate, Historic Renovation


HIGHLIGHTS
  • Architect: Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
  • Owner: SRM Associates
  • Unreinforced brick masonry and wood framed with addition of shotcrete walls and steel braced frames
  • Located on Landfill