MORE THAN LIPSTICK ON A PIG
1920’s Garage Major Remodel to LEED

What do you do with a three story garage built in the 1920’s that needs seismic work in San Francisco? There is an ancient elevator, old knob and tube wiring, minimal heating, and fog as your air conditioner. Tear it down? No, there is no space to build a new one; operations can’t cease during construction, and it would involve too much impact on the neighborhood. Strengthen the frame? With all the work required for seismic reinforcements, you might as well fix it up while you tear it apart.

Come see how PG&E is putting “lipstick” on their “pig” of a garage building. The facility may not have started out a beauty, but the trucks and the employees it houses are vital to providing gas and electric service to the City, and for responding to all emergencies. It needs to be operational, efficient, and hold up in an earthquake. It also needs to reflect the value of “environmental leadership”, which is core to PG&E, and to respect the community neighbors during the process.

After a brief presentation, you will be able to walk through the project in progress and see first hand the complete upgrades of the mechanical and electrical systems, the new technology and materials employed to reduce costs and use fewer resources to reinforce columns, and some of the green features such as the solar array over parking, and drought resistant landscaping. You will see the special challenge of managing a natural stream under the elevator shaft, and of keeping the building in use during reconstruction.