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San Francisco Federal Building
San Francisco Federal Building (main structure, seen from Mission and 7th, 2020).jpg
Main structure of the federal building, with plaza in the foreground
General information
Status Complete
Type Government offices
Architectural style Deconstructivism
Location 90 Seventh Street
San Francisco, California
Coordinates 37°46′45″N 122°24′43″W / 37.77917°N 122.41194°W / 37.77917; -122.41194
Construction started 2003
Opening 2007
Cost US$144 million
Height
Roof 234 ft (71.3 m)
Technical details
Floor count 18
Floor area 605,000 sq ft (56,206 m2)
Design and construction
Architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis
SmithGroup
Developer U.S. General Services Administration
Engineer Arup
Main contractor Hunt Construction Group
Webcor Builders

The San Francisco Federal Building is an 18-story, 234 ft-tall (71.3 m) building at 90 7th Street on the corner of Mission and 7th streets in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco, California. The federal building was designed by the Morphosis architectural firm, as a supplement to the Phillip Burton Federal Building several blocks away. Thom Mayne of Morphosis designed the building using a juxtaposition of gray concrete walls, perforated metal panels, and custom, faceted wood ceilings. The building was expected to be completed in 2005, but construction issues and delays pushed the project completion to 2007.

The building was designed to be a 'green' building consuming less than half the power of a standard office tower. Utilizing natural light to illuminate 80 percent of the building helped it achieve worldwide recognition as the first Federal Building to be certified under the USGBC's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criteria. Its southern wall is draped with translucent panels of perforated stainless steel (3 by 8 feet in size), intended to accumulate solar heat and thereby create an upward air flow, which in turn causes cooler air to enter the building through sensor-controlled windows, achieving an air conditioning effect. The result has been criticized as unsatisfactory by employees working in the building, which has received low workplace satisfaction ratings.

The building features some elevators which stop on every third floor to promote employee interaction and health. Users of the building exit the elevators and walk either up or down one floor via stairs. There are, however, also elevators which stop on every floor for users unable or unwilling to negotiate stairs.

Awards

The San Francisco Federal Building won a Design Award from the AIA San Francisco chapter in 2008. The award praised the buildings open spaces and environmentally friendly design.

The building earned LEED Silver certification from USGBC.

In June 2012, the San Francisco Federal Building was named the International The Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) in the government category. GSA was recognized by the commercial real estate industry for quality in commercial buildings and excellence in building management and operations.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: San Francisco Federal Building para niños

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