Federal Building Plaza Renovation

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Originally constructed in 2007, the San Francisco Federal Building Plaza has been reimagined to improve safety and security, maximize its use by employees and the community, while respecting the original building design. The new plaza includes “folded” landforms inspired by the building’s iconic sunscreen façade that will create a community destination, serving as a lively, flexible, everyday space for Federal Building employees, residents, and visitors. These areas follow a native and pollinator plant palette that provides a green refuge within an otherwise highly urbanized area, enhances ecological health, and minimizes irrigation demand.

As the Civil Engineer on the team, Lotus provided the grading and drainage design, working closely with the Hargreaves Jones team to integrate passive stormwater management strategies into the landscape design and existing architecture. To meet federal and city stormwater management requirements, site runoff is managed via permeable pavers and infiltration trenches, providing a low-maintenance, durable solution for the high-traffic plaza. The site infrastructure systems were designed to qualify for the maximum number of SITES green certification credits while keeping construction costs low.

The renovation was completed in 2021.