Fort Mason Pier 3
A thriving hub for arts, non-profits and cultural events, the historic Fort Mason campus hosts 1.5 million visitors annually at high-profile events including FOG Art+Design, Renegade Craft Fair, and the SF Marathon Expo. As part of ongoing decarbonization and sustainability studies with FMCAC, LMSA developed concept design options and resiliency upgrades for the Pier 3 “Festival Pavilion”, a preeminent venue with a large flexible floor plan and panoramic views of San Francisco Bay.
Informed by an initial Frankenthaler Climate Initiative (FCI) Scoping Report, the FCI Technical Assistance Grant enabled FMCAC and LMSA to study concept design options with the following long-term planning goals:
• Building a Legacy: Revitalize Pier 3 as a 21st-Century events venue and celebrate the site
• Pragmatic Leadership: Low-carbon, all-electric design with maintainable systems
• Welcoming to All: Provide accessible and inclusive amenities
The concept design process for Pier 3 involved a thorough review of the existing shed building, the development of a program based on event uses, and consideration of how to best integrate infrastructure to meet both current needs and long-term goals. Additional emphasis was placed on historic rehabilitation in keeping with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards, as well as seismic, structural and building systems upgrades. The process was informed by group discussions, research, and case studies of similar projects, resulting in two concept options that balance innovation with feasibility.
The concept design effort focused on enhancing the experience of Pier 3’s unique setting at Fort Mason, uniting the significant history of the shed with the future-facing vision of a premier arts venue, and studying the potential for net-zero design. FMCAC will reference these concept design findings in concert with their long-term planning goals for the campus.
