Opera Warehouse/Avalon Dogpatch     
San Francisco, California

Avalon Dogpatch is a 325-unit multi-family community being developed in San Francisco's 'Dogpatch' neighborhood. Located near the 3rd Street Rail line, a Caltrain station, and a short bike ride to downtown, the site is well served by public transportation. Adjacent to the 280 freeway and a raised street viaduct, the site feels distinctly urban. Located south of the city center and along the historic wharf district, the larger Dogpatch neighborhood retains its industrial sense in the scale and form of the blocks and buildings as well as in the continued industrial activity in certain parts.  

Three different architects have been engaged through schematic design to insure a varied architectural treatment along the long block: Pyatok Architects, Kennerly Architecture + Planning and Mithun/Solomon. As the Landscape Architects for the project, Miller Company is charged with uniting the three buildings, creating an interface with the street, and designing an adjacent public dog park. We have developed a streetscape that breaks down the length of the block to encourage slower driving, and creates a lively sidewalk experience. Head in parking was replaced with a combination of back-in angle parking and parallel parking to improve safety, in particular for the bikers who use the shared street. Wide sidewalks, lined on either side with plantings, separate pedestrians from traffic and create a green swath through the neighborhood.

Three public plazas mark the lobby entries of the buildings. Seating, bike racks, lighting, and a variety of paving materials enrich the public right-of-way. Within the project, a series of interior courtyards provide respite from the bustle of the city with layered plantings, gathering areas, outdoor dining and exercise areas, bike repair and dog washing stations, and access to expansive roof decks with views toward the bay. Units along the courtyards have private patios and upper floor units have private balconies. Within this setting, stormwater will be managed in the landscape through a series of greenroofs, infiltration planters, and cistern located in the garage to supply the irrigation.

Architect: Pyatok Architects
Architect: Mithun/Solomon
Architect: Kennerly Architecture + Planning
Developer/General Contractor: Avalon Bay Communities