This award-winning renovation gave renewed life to a four-story, Beaux-Arts courthouse built in 1905. Comprehensive architectural, structural, and interior design services were provided to repair earthquake damage and to broadly enhance the building’s program and appearance.
In the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, the General Services Administration asked SOM to revitalize and seismically retrofit the landmark courthouse. The design solution included an innovative friction pendulum base-isolation system, which raised each of the building’s columns onto steel disks. This approach preserved the use of the existing basement level, while a novel installation technique reduced the cost of the project by over $7 million. At the time of its completion, the renovated courthouse was the largest base-isolated structure in the world.
SOM also refurbished courtrooms, chambers, and other interior spaces. The most striking change was the conversion of an interior courtyard—previously used as a mail-sorting room—into a law library. A new glass roof brings filtered daylight into the space.
U.S. Court of Appeals
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Project Facts
Location: San Francisco, California
Project Completion: 1996
Site Area: 115,000 ft2
Project Area: 400,000 ft2
Number of Stories: 4
Building Height: 75 ft
Market: Civic + Government, Commercial + Office
Service: Architecture, Interior Design, Structural + Civil Engineering
News
Awards
2015
50 Significant Structures in 50 YearsStructural Engineers Association of Illinois2000
Federal Design Achievement Award: Historic PreservationNational Endowment for the Arts1998
National Honor Award for Interior ArchitectureAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA)1998
National Honor Award for ArchitectureAmerican Institute of Architects (AIA)1998
Honor Award for ArchitectureActual Specifying Engineer1998
Interior Architecture Award: Honor AwardAIA – Chicago Chapter1997
Preservation Design Award: Rehabilitation/Adaptive ReuseCalifornia Preservation Foundation1997
Honor Award for Design: Historic Preservation, Adaptive Reuse, RenovationAIA – California Council1996
Design Award: Historic Preservation and RestorationU.S. General Services Administration1996
Award of Excellence: Landmark StructuresStructural Engineers Association of California1996
Interior Design Honor AwardAIA – San Francisco Chapter1995
National Award for Engineering Technology and InnovationU.S. General Services Administration1995
Most Innovative Structure Award: Award of MeritStructural Engineers Association of IllinoisSee Also...

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