Bayview Opera House Renovation

The $5.7 million renovation of the historic Bayview Opera House significantly improved ADA access throughout the landmark site and transformed the adjacent plaza into a welcoming community gathering space for music, performing arts, and cultural programming.
 

Led by the San Francisco Arts Commission, which owns the property, the project was a collaboration with the Mayor’s Office on Disability, San Francisco Public Works, and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority. Renowned landscape architect and artist Walter Hood of Hood Design, in partnership with TEF Design/Knapp Architects, Joint Venture, oversaw the plaza redesign. The project enhances the streetscape at the intersection of Third Street and Newcomb Avenue, contributing to the broader revitalization of the neighborhood.
 

The newly designed plaza expands the center’s capacity for outdoor events with a wooden stage, permanent seating, and sustainable landscaping. A grassy play area was also added to support children’s activities and large-scale community events.
 

Working closely with the Mayor’s Office on Disability, the architectural team developed a design that honors the building’s historic character while introducing much-needed accessibility upgrades. The exterior staircase was enlarged and connected to elevated walkways leading to the side porch and backstage area, enhancing overall circulation and operational efficiency. Interior upgrades include three fully ADA-accessible restrooms and seismic stabilization of the historic balcony. Extensive dry-rot mitigation resulted in the complete reconstruction of the south-facing wall, located behind the outdoor stage.
 

Consulting firm Deborah Frieden & Associates played a key role in aligning the project with community priorities, ensuring that the renovation supported the Opera House’s mission as a vital arts and cultural center while preserving its historic integrity.
 

Additional project support was provided by OneSF, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the Community Challenge Grant Program, the Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure, and the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Generous funding also came from Kaiser Permanente and the John & Marcia Goldman Foundation.

About the Bayview Opera House Ruth Williams Memorial Theater
Built in 1888 by the Masons, the Bayview Opera House (BVOH) is the oldest standing theater in San Francisco and one of the few structures to survive the 1906 earthquake and fire. It is the first—and currently only—building in San Francisco’s District 10 to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
 

Operated by the nonprofit Bayview Opera House, Inc., the facility provides year-round arts education for at-risk youth at little or no cost. The organization also hosts a wide range of cultural events for all ages, including art exhibitions, concerts, theatrical performances, and community celebrations—most notably the neighborhood’s signature 3rd on Third event.