flexiblefullpage -
billboard - default
interstitial1 - interstitial
catfish1 - bottom
Currently Reading

Move, lift, restore: Repurposing a former post office near San Francisco

Projects

Move, lift, restore: Repurposing a former post office near San Francisco

A Bay Area project integrates a historic structure into an office and retail development.


By Novid Parsi, Contributing Editor | March 3, 2022
Post Office
The new and office retail building will be moved back to its former site in 2023.

In mid-February, a construction crew began lifting a 1940s post office building located in Burlingame, Calif., on the San Francisco Peninsula. The crew moved the 1,010-ton structure about 120 feet away so that a new underground parking garage can be built directly beneath the post office’s historic site, while a new office and retail development, 220 Park Road, will be built above it.

Post Office Reconstruction
Reconstruction began on a 1940 building in February.

In 2023, after undergoing restoration, the post office will be moved back to its former site, where it will be integrated into the new office and retail building, designed by KSH Architects. It will then have a second life as a ground-floor restaurant space at the base of the 220 Park Road office and retail development.

As the preservation architect, Page & Turnbull collaborated with KSH Architects and general contractor Garden City Construction to safely move the structure. The new development is a joint venture of Sares Regis Group of Northern California and Dostart Development Company.

“This post office is part of the historic fabric of the city of Burlingame, and we are honored to help ensure the preservation and adaptation of this public treasure,” says architect Ruth Todd, principal of Page & Turnbull, and the project’s preservation leader, in a statement.

Garden City Construction is joined by construction manager Devcon Construction, structural engineer IMEG, and civil engineer BKF. The mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering is performed, respectively, by Silicon Valley Mechanical, Rex Moore, and KDS Plumbing.

The project broke ground in September. When it’s complete, the long-vacant, 1.3-acre lot in the center of downtown Burlingame will be home to 185,000 square feet of new office and retail space. The repurposed post office then will open onto the new adjacent Burlingame Town Square, scheduled to begin construction right after the completion of 220 Park.

Related Stories

Architects | Oct 31, 2017

AIA selects recipients for the 2017 Innovation Awards

The program honors projects that highlight collaboration between design and construction teams to create better process efficiencies and overall costs savings.

Projects | Sep 13, 2017

A new platform offers a solution to construction cost overruns

Rider Levett Bucknall’s Pulse takes project management deeper into financial analysis and forecasting.

Projects | Apr 17, 2017

BD+C's 2017 Design Innovation Report

Façades that would make Dr. Seuss smile, living walls, and exterior wall space that doubles as gallery space are all represented in this year's BD+C Design Innovation Report.

Projects | Jan 25, 2017

Trump prioritizes infrastructure projects, as rebuilding America is now a hot political potato

Both parties are talking about $1 trillion in spending over the next decade. How projects will be funded, though, remains unresolved.

Projects | Jul 29, 2016

From Construction Site to Court Room: How project management is transforming expert witness teams

Applying goal-oriented methodologies and techniques can increase efficiency and reduce costs associated with litigation.  

Projects | Aug 21, 2015

Panama Canal expansion nearing completion

An April 2016 opening is scheduled, which will allow bigger-capacity ships to traverse between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. 

Mixed-Use | Jul 22, 2015

Despite China's 'ghost cities,' the country continues construction boom

Cities continue to spring up in the heart of China. Designed to accommodate millions, many are still nearly empty.

Sponsored | Cladding and Facade Systems | Mar 24, 2015

Designers turn a struggling mall into a hub of learning and recreation

Architects help Nashville government transform a struggling mall into a new community space.

Museums | Mar 5, 2015

A giant, silver loop in Dubai will house the Museum of the Future

The Sheikh of Dubai hopes the $136 million museum will serve as an incubator for ideas and real designs—a global destination for inventors and entrepreneurs.

Cultural Facilities | Feb 25, 2015

Edmonton considering 'freezeway' to embrace winter

If the new Edmonton Freezeway is constructed, residents will have an 11-km course that winds through the city and allows them to skate to work, school, and other city activities.

boombox1 - default
boombox2 -
native1 -

More In Category




halfpage1 -

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021