Hundreds of neighbors celebrated the reopening of Palega Playground and Recreation Center on Nov. 16, 2013. Located on Felton Street in the Portola neighborhood, families cheered the restoration of this 80-year old, five acre complex, which includes new playground equipment; a renovated recreation building that houses a gymnasium, several multi-purpose rooms, kitchen, staff offices, storage and restrooms; basketball and tennis courts; and new soccer, baseball and softball fields.
 

Located in the heart of the Mission District, our design work included the renovation and seismic retrofit of the existing clubhouse and pool buildings, and renovation of the existing playground.
 

The clubhouse renovation included a reconfiguration; accessibility, mechanical, plumbing and electrical upgrades; and seismic retrofits.
 

The pool building renovation included accessibility, mechanical and plumbing system upgrades; new pool deck and pool shell finish; and seismic retrofits.
 

The existing building was constructed over fifty years ago and comprised of a gym, a weight room, a kitchen, an auditorium and an office at the ground level. Locker rooms and showers were located within the basement. Tall Monterey Pines surround the recreation center. A number of physical and functional problems motivated the construction of a new building as opposed to the renovation of the existing building.
 

On behalf of the Recreation and Parks Department, BDC led the renovation of McCoppin Square, which included work such as ADA accessibility improvements to previously inaccessible areas of the park; expansion of the existing playground; improvements to the baseball field, tennis court, and basketball court; addition of a new set of restrooms; and a new contemplative garden.
 

Lafayette Park extends four full city blocks in the Pacific Heights neighborhood with views of Twin Peaks and Alcatraz. While the existing site offered stunning views and extensive paths, the park features were limited. Our goal was not only to renovate the basic infrastructure, but also expand park amenities to provide greater public use and enjoyment.
 

Through the San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the Bureau of Architecture was retained to prepare an existing assessment study and conceptual design program for the Junipero Serra Playground at 300 Stonecrest Drive. The study was an assessment of the one story clubhouse and grounds along with recommendations for building and site improvements, including accessibility for persons with disabilities. The Recreation and Parks accepted and approved the conceptual program and it became the basis for a capital improvement project.
 

Hamilton Recreation Center and Playground is a large multi-use facility located at the corner of Geary Bouelvard and Steiner Streets. Two large structures built in 1956 house a community pool and gymnasium and smaller building offices, a community room and kitchen. A children’s playground is located to the south of the pool building along with tennis and volleyball courts and parking. A grass play field is located directly west of the buildings. The dated facility did not conform to current codes or the current needs of the community.
 

Designed by Public Works’ Building Design & Construction, the revamped park includes a new accessible playground with an embankment slide, a dome-shaped climbing structure, natural boulders and sandbox; an improved Elk Street entry and safe drop-off area; accessible pathways; more than 160 new native and Mediterranean trees; and inviting landscaping.
 

Fulton Playground is located in the Outer Richmond neighborhood. The playground and the historically significant William Merchant-designed clubhouse were redesigned and renovated by Public Works to meet the Recreation and Park Department’s programmatic and operational needs and the demands of the park users. The outdoor play areas and courts were redesigned to comply with accessibility and modern play structure codes.

Originally constructed in 1957, Coffman Pool is located at the southeastern entrance of McLaren Park. The facility underwent a major renovation completed in 2008, which included a new entry lobby, reception area, public restrooms, locker rooms, a family changing room, staff and support spaces, and an outdoor patio. The existing pool shell and mechanical room were found to be in sound condition and were updated to meet current standards.