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San Francisco Federal Building facts for kids

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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 a modern, 18-story building located in San Francisco, California. It's a place where different parts of the United States government have their offices. This building was designed to be very special, focusing on saving energy and being kind to the environment. It stands out with its unique design and its commitment to being "green."

About the San Francisco Federal Building

The San Francisco Federal Building is about 234 ft-tall (71.3 m). It's found in the South of Market neighborhood of San Francisco. The building was designed by a company called Morphosis, with Thom Mayne as the main architect. They used a cool mix of gray concrete, metal panels, and special wooden ceilings to give it a unique look. Even though it was planned to finish in 2005, it opened in 2007 due to some building challenges.

A Green Building Design

This building was made to be super energy-efficient. It uses less than half the power of a regular office tower! One smart way it saves energy is by using natural light. About 80 percent of the building gets light from the sun. This helped it become the first Federal Building to get a special award called LEED certification from the USGBC. LEED stands for "Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design."

The building also has a clever way to stay cool. Its southern wall has special metal panels that let in some sunlight. These panels help create an upward flow of air, which then pulls cooler air into the building through windows that open by themselves. This helps keep the building comfortable without using a lot of air conditioning. While this design is very innovative, some people working there found it a bit different from traditional offices.

Cool Features Inside

The San Francisco Federal Building has some interesting features to help people move around and interact. Some of the elevators don't stop on every floor. Instead, they stop on every third floor. This encourages employees to walk up or down one floor using stairs. It's a way to promote more movement and interaction among people working there. Don't worry, though! There are also regular elevators that stop on every floor for anyone who needs them.

Awards and Recognition

The San Francisco Federal Building has won several important awards for its design and how it's managed.

  • In 2008, it won a Design Award from the AIA San Francisco chapter. This award recognized its open spaces and its environmentally friendly design.
  • The building earned a LEED Silver certification from the USGBC. This shows its strong commitment to being a green building.
  • In June 2012, the building was named "The Outstanding Building of the Year" (TOBY) in the government category. This award celebrates excellent management and operations in commercial buildings.

See also

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

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