Thoreau Center for Sustainability

The Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Francisco is a landmark renovation of the historic Army Hospital in the Presidio, and one of the first public/private partnership projects in the new National Park. This non-profit center is a national model for integrating sustainable design strategies within the National Register historic structures.

A landmark in several ways, the Thoreau Center for Sustainability was the first renovation project at the new National Park in the Presidio of San Francisco, an early model of successful private/public partnerships within the National Parks, and a pioneering integration of sustainable design strategies within the National Register of historic structures.

Owner

Tides Foundation / Equity Community Builders

Location

Presidio of San Francisco, CA

Size

75,000 sq. ft. (Phase 1); 37,000 sq. ft. (Phase 2A)

Image Credit

Richard Barnes

Share

Located in the historic hospital wards of the Presidio’s Letterman Complex, the Center provides a home for over 60 non-profit organizations working for a healthy environment and a just world. The landmark buildings were upgraded for their new use as office and research facilities in strict conformance with the requirements of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Structures. In compliance with the National Park Service’s “Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design,” the design team researched and applied the latest developments in sustainable building materials and integrated building systems available at the time.

The Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Francisco is a landmark renovation of the historic Army Hospital in the Presidio, and one of the first public/private partnership projects in the new National Park. This non-profit center is a national model for integrating sustainable design strategies within the National Register historic structures.
Awards
AIA California Council, Honor Award
AIA National - Committee on the Environment, Top Ten Green Project
California Preservation Foundation, Design Award
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Honor Award
The Thoreau Center for Sustainability in San Francisco is a landmark renovation of the historic Army Hospital in the Presidio, and one of the first public/private partnership projects in the new National Park. This non-profit center is a national model for integrating sustainable design strategies within the National Register historic structures.
with
Sannihita Takkallapalli