THE RENOVATION OF UNION SQUARE
Union Square , the historic public plaza located in the heart of San Francisco 's retail district, has evolved with social change every few
generations since its inception in the 1800's. On July 25, 2002 , San Francisco re-opens Union Square following an 18-month renovation,
as a result of a significant public private partnership.
Public Sector Partners
The Mayor of the City and County of San Francisco
San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. served as one of the major catalysts to renovate Union Square . Calling for an international design competition, the Mayor made the project a top priority with the goal of creating a design that would encourage increased public use.
The Role of City Departments
Property of the City and County of San Francisco , Union Square is under the jurisdiction of two City departments:
• The Department Parking and Traffic (DPT) and the Parking Authority have jurisdiction over the underground garage at Union Square . DPT contracts with the non-profit Uptown Parking Corporation to oversee the operation and maintenance of the garage. The DPT Commission approved the issuance of the Parking Revenue bonds to pay for the improvements to Union Square .
• The Recreation and Park Department has jurisdiction over the open space above the Union Square Garage. They reviewed and approved the renovation plans and provide landscaping and custodial services to Union Square . The department also contracts with the Uptown Parking Corporation for supplemental maintenance services to protect the public investment in the property. In addition, they are responsible for permitting events in Union Square .
Three other City departments also played important roles:
• The Department of Public Works (DPW ) provided oversight to the design team and the redesign of Union Square through its Bureau of Architecture. The staff shepherded the plans through various city agencies for approvals and worked with the project design team and consultants to design and build the project.
• The San Francisco Art Commission supported the renovation of Union Square in two ways. It reviewed and approved the design and coordinated the public art project which will feature four lighting sculptures designed by artist R.M. Fischer.
• The San Francisco Planning Department participated in the Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC) and reviewed and approved the design and the final plans as consistent with the City's General Plan.
Private Sector Partners
The Union Square Association
Downtown is everyone's neighborhood. Like every other civic space, Union Square is surrounded by a community-- in this case, the business community. The Union Square Association has 250 members and represents surrounding neighbors. Since its incorporation in 1979, the Union Square Association has been a voice for members on matters of common interest. The condition and use of Union Square has always been a primary concern to the Association.
The Association is a primary advocate for the current renovation and helped articulate its programmatic uses. In 1996, the Association, along with the San Francisco Planning and Research Association (SPUR), asked the City to undertake a renovation of the Square. Many members were involved throughout the project approval, design and construction phases. Linda Mjellem , the Association's executive director, served as co-chair on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the project.
The Association also led fundraising for and planning of the public re-opening celebrations. Many of the Association's members made significant pro bono contributions of time and in-kind services to help produce and publicize the re-opening celebration.
Members and their significant contributions include:
• Broom & Broom designed a logo for the new look of Union Square
• Landis Communications, Inc. (LCI) developed and implemented the public relations plan, designed and coordinated the press conference, press kit materials and media relations activities
• Jamison/McKay created ads and copy for advertorials and advertising placements
• Print media members donated free advertorial space: the San Francisco Chronicle (16 page broadsheet), WHERE San Francisco (16 page supplement), San Francisco Magazine (double page ad) and the Nob Hill Gazette (full page ad)
• The Pan Pacific Hotel's publicist rallied nearby hotels to provide a special "Circle the Square" package, developed a press release with hotel package details and distributed it to 1,400 travel writers around the world
• Charles Zukow Associates helped procure talent for the public celebration
• Macy's West helped produce the celebration concerts
• The SF Convention & Visitors Bureau promoted the re-opening worldwide
• Scores of the Association's members participated in planning meetings to make the re-opening a memorable celebration
The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR)
Like the Union Square Association, SPUR has long maintained an interest in the design, condition and uses of Union Square . Through one of its standing committees, SPUR developed design criteria for Union Square based on modern uses of public spaces. SPUR also led a collaborative called the San Francisco Prize that coordinated and judged an international design competition for the redesign of Union Square . Jim Chappell, SPUR's president, also served as a co-chair on the Citizens Advisory Committee on the renovation project.
The San Francisco Prize
In March 1997, a group called San Francisco Prize 1 sponsored an international competition for Union Square , inspiring many innovative urban designs. The competition generated a total of 309 entries from 20 states and 10 countries. In August 1997, the SF Prize jury selected five design finalists for the renovation of the Square. From the finalists, the jury selected The Philips + Fotheringham Partnership design for the New Union Square .
The Uptown Parking Corporation
The Uptown Parking Corporation is a non-profit entity that leases the Union Square Garage and is responsible for its operation and maintenance, a role critical to the renovation project. Like the plaza above, the physical condition of the garage had deteriorated with time and was in need of major repair and renovation. The membrane separating the roof of the garage and the park was leaking and the elevators, ventilation system, restrooms and exits were all in need of repair. Uptown Parking Corporation paid for the renovation project by issuing parking revenue bonds in 2000, following completion of the design phase of the project.
The Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC)
After the SF Prize international design competition selected a winning design concept for the renovation of Union Square, the next step refined the concept in collaboration with the actual users of the square-the citizens of San Francisco. The Mayor appointed a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to provide feedback to the City's design team and the project consultants to assure that the final design would re-invigorate the Square and incorporate the uses suggested by the community. This advisory committee assembled in March 1998, composed of 27 representatives from eight different organizations, neighboring businesses and a dozen representatives from various City departments.
Organizations represented on the Citizens Advisory Committee included the Union Square Association, SPUR, the SF Convention & Visitors Bureau, American Institute of Architects (AIA), SF Beautiful, the Yerba Buena Alliance, SF Heritage, and the Uptown Parking Corporation.
The CAC met regularly with the design team to help obtain City approvals. San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. and civic leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony in December, 2000, kicking off the 18-month construction project. Following this renovation, Union Square re-opens with a weekend of festivities July 25-28, 2002 .
1 San Francisco Prize is a consortium of civic groups, including: SPUR, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco Beautiful, SFMOMA, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the American Society of Interior Designers, the California College of Arts and Crafts, the Industrial Designers Society of America, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Union Square Association and the San Francisco Department of City Planning.
The Uptown Parking Corporation
The Uptown Parking Corporation is a non-profit entity that leases the Union Square Garage and is responsible for its operation and maintenance, a role critical to the renovation project. Like the plaza above, the physical condition of the garage had deteriorated with time and was in need of major repair and renovation. The membrane separating the roof of the garage and the park was leaking and the elevators, ventilation system, restrooms and exits were all in need of repair. Uptown Parking Corporation paid for the renovation project by issuing parking revenue bonds in 2000, following completion of the design phase of the project.
The Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC)
After the SF Prize international design competition selected a winning design concept for the renovation of Union Square, the next step refined the concept in collaboration with the actual users of the square-the citizens of San Francisco . The Mayor appointed a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to provide feedback to the City's design team and the project consultants to assure that the final design would re-invigorate the Square and incorporate the uses suggested by the community. This advisory committee assembled in March 1998, composed of 27 representatives from eight different organizations, neighboring businesses and a dozen representatives from various City departments.
Organizations represented on the Citizens Advisory Committee included the Union Square Association, SPUR, the SF Convention & Visitors Bureau, American Institute of Architects (AIA), SF Beautiful, the Yerba Buena Alliance, SF Heritage, and the Uptown Parking Corporation.
The CAC met regularly with the design team to help obtain City approvals. San Francisco Mayor Willie L. Brown Jr. and civic leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony in December, 2000, kicking off the 18-month construction project. Following this renovation, Union Square re-opens with a weekend of festivities July 25-28, 2002 .
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