Resurrecting History: Renovating the Strand Theater in San Francisco

摘要

The Strand Theater on Market Street in San Francisco was built in 1917 and was one of a number of venues that formed the city's famed theater district. After having fallen into disuse and remained vacant for many years, the building was purchased by the American Conservatory Theater (ACT) to serve as the home for its planned "second stage theater". Renovating the theater building involved a complete reworking of the interior spaces to function with the new program while saving the building's shell and historic facade. A new reinforced concrete and masonry lateral system with new foundations developed to meet code and integrated seamlessly into the theater's interior was provided, enhancing the resilience of the structure. Challenges included not impacting the subway system structures that run below the main street fronting the theater and designing the structure to resist pounding from a neighboring building built right up against its historical facade on the same street. The integrated solution to this unique and challenging revitalization project, revitalization not only of the building itself but of the entire 'mid-market" neighborhood that it sits in, has been widely acclaimed.