Presidio Trust Selects 5 Firms to Envision New Area of Park
Internationally acclaimed firms selected from 25 proposals; public input encouraged
(Presidio of San Francisco – April 22, 2014) The Presidio Trust, working with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service, has invited five renowned design firms to develop conceptual design and programming for 10 acres of new parkland that will be created in the Presidio atop a dramatic bluff with panoramic Golden Gate views. The design opportunity came about as the result of the demolition of the 75-year-old freeway leading to the Golden Gate Bridge, which is being replaced by the Presidio Parkway, a new at-grade tunnel-covered roadway that will connect the two most expansive public spaces in the Presidio: the historic Main Post and the bay front at Crissy Field. The project also includes three acres of newly designed parklands adjacent to the Crissy Field Center, including facilities and grounds for youth programs offered by the Trust, Conservancy, and National Park Service.
The five teams, selected out of 25 respondents, are:
- CMG Landscape Architecture, San Francisco
- James Corner Field Operations, New York
- OLIN, Philadelphia/Los Angeles
- SNØHETTA, Oslo/New York /San Francisco
- West 8 Team, Rotterdam/Brussels/New York
The teams responded to a request for qualifications (RFQ) that was issued by the Trust and its partners in March. Respondents were asked to propose a cross-disciplinary approach to creating a signature destination that would welcome diverse audiences. Each of the teams will be awarded a $25,000 stipend to develop its proposal over two months, and present its designs to the public in the fall.
“The response of these internationally acclaimed design teams is a testament to the potential of this site, which is one of the most iconic and beautiful in the world,” said Craig Middleton, Presidio Trust Executive Director. “We look forward to working with them and with the community to create a breathtaking new place to welcome the public to the Presidio.”
Alongside the professional design teams, the Presidio Trust is inviting the public to submit their own concepts through an open “ideas competition” that will launch in May. The public is invited to meet the five design teams at a forum on May 6 at the Presidio Observation Post, and will have many opportunities to provide feedback on design, amenity, and programmatic aspirations for the new site through a series of site tours, events and exhibits. Visit the Presidio Trust website for more information about how to get involved.
The non-profit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is a key project partner with the Presidio Trust and is securing the philanthropic funds needed to complete this visionary initiative. To date, the Parks Conservancy has raised $30 million to support this project, including a generous $25 million lead grant from the S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation.
“The Bay Area has a strong tradition of philanthropy and volunteerism to support our world-class national parks at the Golden Gate. We are honored to be a partner in this next exciting chapter of park-building at the Presidio to create a public place that is by and for everyone,” said Greg Moore, President CEO of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.
The Conservancy will continue to work with the Trust to secure the philanthropic funds needed to complete this project. The National Park Service is also engaged as a partner agency.
About the Presidio Trust
The Presidio Trust, a federal agency, is an innovation in the management of a treasured American place. The Trust was created to save the Presidio and transform it for a new national purpose. The Trust’s vision is that the Presidio will be forever a public place: vital to the Bay Area, important to all Americans, and recognized for achieving broad benefits for the nation. Today, the Presidio welcomes visitors, is home to a vibrant community of residents and tenants, and inspires greater good through programs that draw on its history and natural resources. The Presidio Trust serves the public with events, lodging, venues, and recreational opportunities. To learn more, visit www.presidio.gov.
About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Parks Conservancy is the non-profit membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future. The Conservancy is an authorized “cooperating association” of the National Park Service, and is one of more than 70 such nonprofit organizations working with national parks around the country. To learn more, visit www.parksconservancy.org.
About the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America’s most significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural treasures. The NPS manages the Golden Gate National Parks, as well as 394 other park sites across the United States. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/goga.