The Landmark Union Square
Client:
Maefield Development
Scope:
Residential Adaptive Re-use
Location:
San Francisco, CA
Size:
51,000 square feet
The Landmark Union Square was the first of several conversions of former office buildings into residences in downtown San Francisco. Originally built in 1908, the neoclassical landmark was once the Home Telephone Company’s headquarters. The project’s goal was to provide a city retreat, close to amenities and public transportation and thus requiring no dedicated parking.
Credits:
David Wakely
Vibrant retail spaces at ground level remain part of the Union Square fabric, while a dramatic new residential lobby leads to 39 units ranging from studios to one- and two-bedrooms. Soaring penthouse suites take advantage of the building's unique double-height top floor. Inside the units, sandblasted brick is complimented by granite counters, mahogany cabinets, and solid hardwood flooring.
Thanks in part to a context-sensitive exterior renovation and a transit-first approach, the Landmark gained support from San Francisco Beautiful and the Union Square Association, as well as approvals from the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board and Landmarks Commission, and charted the path towards similar subsequent urban developments in the city.
Awards:
San Francisco Business Times Real Estate Deals of the Year, Finalist, 2004
Publications:
"Phone Home: The Home Telephone Co. Reconnects as Luxury Condos," Multifamily Executive, June 2005
"Recovery Knocks in Office Market as Vacancies Dwindle," San Francisco Business Times, December 17, 2004
"Once a Telephone Building - Now a Place to Call Home," San Francisco Chronicle, November 11, 2004
"Chinatown is Firm's Launch Pad," San Francisco Business Times, October 22, 2004
"Home Work," San Francisco Downtown, August 2004
