Public Works Week 2015: Open Houses, Project Tours

For immediate release: April 20, 2015 

Contact: Rachel Gordon, (415) 554-6045

PUBLIC WORKS WEEK 2015: OPEN HOUSES, PROJECT TOURS 

Activities for students to check out careers in the trades, architecture and engineering

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Hundreds of students will participate in Public Works Week activities to learn firsthand about careers in the trades, architecture and engineering.

The annual event, held this year April 20 through April 25, focuses on energizing and educating the public on the contributions San Francisco Public Works makes to improve the quality of life in our communities -- from cleaning and greening the neighborhoods, to paving our roads, designing and managing building projects and training our residents for jobs in the trades.

On Wednesday, more than 100 grade-school students will meet with San Francisco Public Works’ architects and engineers, learn about their professions and build a model city together. San Francisco Public Works’ building and infrastructure divisions are involved in myriad construction projects, among them renovating parks and recreation centers, restoring the historic War Memorial Veterans Building and redesigning streetscapes.

On Thursday, more than 400 students and young adults will attend an open house at the Public Works’ operation yard to find out about careers as carpenters, plumbers, electricians, sheet metal workers, sprinkler fitters and other building trades workers.

Trades union representatives and City workers will be on hand to discuss training programs, and visitors will get a chance to work in the shops and build tool boxes, create dog tags, snake a drain and participate in other hands-on activities. Participants also will get an opportunity to climb into a training sewer and to ride sky-high in a bucket truck.

“We’re a boots-on-the-ground, 24/7 operation that at the end of the day is about people – people working on behalf of the people of San Francisco,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “Public Works Week is a great opportunity to showcase our projects and programs, celebrate our achievements and introduce students to interesting and important careers.”

The department runs apprenticeship programs for environmental service workers, cement masons, arborists, gardeners, asphalt workers and corridor ambassadors.

Throughout the weeklong celebration, Public Works will lead tours of featured projects under construction, starting with three tours on Monday: The San Francisco General Hospital rebuild on Potrero Avenue, the teen center at the Main Library and the Bartlett Plaza streetscape project in the Mission. On Thursday, the public can tour the War Memorial Veterans Building in Civic Center.

The Public Works Week celebration culminates with a Community Clean Team event on Saturday, where hundreds of volunteers gather at Lowell High School to plant trees, landscape, remove graffiti and clean up their neighborhood together.

Press and photo opportunities: 

April 20 - April 25 

Public Works project tours 

Please visit public tour page for schedule and registration.

Wednesday, April 22 

Architects and engineers open house 

9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 30 Van Ness Ave., 4th and 5th floors 

Please contact Public Works in advance for access to the building.

Thursday, April 23 

More than 400 students attend operations/trades open house 

9 a.m. to 12 noon, Public Works operations yard, 2323 Cesar Chavez St. Arrangements can be made in advance for press parking.

Saturday, April 25 

District 7 Community Clean Team and Earth Day event 

9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Lowell High School, 1101 Eucalyptus Drive

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