Fort Mason Pier 2 Renovation & Adaptive Re-Use
San Francisco, CA
Pier 2 at Fort Mason Center is a multi-phase adaptive re-use project that transforms an aging U.S. Army pier shed into a state-of-the-art event space (Phase 1) and later into an education center for the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI - Phase 2).
In Phase 1, the historic shed and Cowell Theater were fully renovated. New high efficiency building systems include a 255KW rooftop solar electric array and a radiant floor heating system throughout. Various uses were proposed for Phase 2, including a performance space (shown here) that connects to the Cowell Theater located at the end of the pier shed.
The final Phase 2 build-out transforms the interior volume into SFAI's graduate arts campus, with 160 studios, exhibit galleries, teaching spaces and workshops, and a black box theater.
Each phase of the renovations preserves the historic industrial integrity of the landmark structure in strict conformance with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for Historic Rehabilitation.
- California Preservation Foundation, Rehabilitation Award
- Client: Fort Mason Foundation (Phase 1); SFAI (Phase 2)
- Team: Charlie Stott, Project Manager for LMS Architects
- Photographs: Bruce Damonte & NPS.
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1600,1199,700,1199/0-0-0/be784ddc-9dd3-45d4-8279-013633c6a612/1/1/FortMason_Photo-_BruceDamonte_10.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=960580a5aa8e738a3c3d2ce272ed57167e5baee62a7e9195cbcc506c548de4df)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1600,1176,700,1176/0-0-0/a13181e2-bf52-437d-ad9e-01d24b109c61/1/1/FortMason_Photo-_BruceDamonte_01.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=9bef0948fbb4113a34044e03d40de7c3fd5827d0c21624b0329206c8d3c7a35c)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1067,1600,700,1600/0-0-0/8add31b0-c254-4e4a-821c-9aa59a7dfbe1/1/1/FortMason_Photo-_BruceDamonte_13.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=421dd0a9d8602344b065120408688849069ec2f8e7be5c1d640bd569f41a0f18)
![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1600,1199,700,1199/0-0-0/d406d627-a0a2-4c37-b042-a193ac097cd3/1/1/FortMason_Photo-_BruceDamonte_18.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=960580a5aa8e738a3c3d2ce272ed57167e5baee62a7e9195cbcc506c548de4df)
Phase 1 Exhibition Hall Renovation
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,3400,2200,700,2200/0-0-0/03d1f63b-cd8f-413f-ac5a-6e4e719790bd/1/1/0804_04_event_from_herbst.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=053e3a1c29cc8c0328168a683b3821592085e42388cb355b24da212094ac1d18)
Phase 1 Performance Space Proposal
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,3400,2200,700,2200/0-0-0/27fd1870-bb33-4abd-ba8c-b25703018ebf/1/1/0804_10_event_space.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=053e3a1c29cc8c0328168a683b3821592085e42388cb355b24da212094ac1d18)
Phase 1 Performance Space Proposal
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1600,1144,700,1144/0-0-0/30bbebf4-8990-47ad-a5a5-493f9a5b4beb/1/1/FortMason_Photo-_BruceDamonte_31.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=bafc93d33e84dbaaab2f6fc61502de07ac2ddc397f67d05d720856119f134a1e)
Phase 1 Cowell Theater Renovation
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1800,1200,700,1200/0-0-0/33d552f4-9905-4afb-a614-13ac37915956/1/1/SAI_04_0.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=c78fefefdf5d0ac4f0a47008430363116ba5a8bff2d8eb17f802f02385300112)
Phase 2: SF Arts Institute Build-out
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1800,1200,700,1200/0-0-0/f6c374e4-ff48-4f34-8888-361e78e1d92d/1/1/historic.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=c78fefefdf5d0ac4f0a47008430363116ba5a8bff2d8eb17f802f02385300112)
Historic US Army Photo
×![](https://format.creatorcdn.com/64b999b3-fef3-4dac-887f-43a08c909312/0/0/0/0,0,1800,1200,700,1200/0-0-0/de2ccbae-b9f7-42aa-b91f-d258fa971b38/1/1/Fort-Mason_5.jpg?fjkss=exp=2037476370~hmac=c78fefefdf5d0ac4f0a47008430363116ba5a8bff2d8eb17f802f02385300112)