Often adaptive reuse is thought of in the context of old buildings. So Surfacedesign’s recent project Bayfront Park in San Francisco is notable in that building materials with local lore and natural elements were creatively repurposed into seating and an observation platform. The result is a sustainable outdoor space filled with meaning.
Bayfront Park extends 5.5 acres across the eastern edge of Mission Bay near the Chase Center. Prior to industrialization, which turned the area into a shipbuilding and maritime hub, the land was a habitat for wildlife, namely water birds. In its recent reimagining of the former industrial site, Surfacedesign considered both of these histories. Through a supportive planting scheme and the reuse of maritime infrastructure that could have otherwise been discarded, the landscape welcomes both wildlife and people. The local firm was awarded the project in 2015, so its opening this week was nearly 10 years in the making.
According to the landscape designers, the park is “intentionally flexible.” Its sloping hills and trails abutting the sea can be used for just about any recreational activity, from morning jogs to afternoon picnics to evening strolls. The park has three primary zones: the waterfront, a duo of lawns and gardens, and the 16th Street Plaza. Along the waterfront, wide pathways connect to trails running through and around the park along with an elevated wooden boardwalk referred to as The Porch. Programming in the 16th Street Plaza includes picnicking and interpretive exhibits on the history of the site.
Mindful of Bayfront Park’s proximity to the ocean, Surfacedesign said it raised the site’s elevation “to provide a buffer from sea level rise and coastal surges.” It rises 14.5 feet at its highest point. To prevent the raised land from caving in or sinking, a lightweight fill was used.
The proximity and connection to the bay is seen not just in the waterfront vistas; it’s felt throughout the landscape thanks to the reuse of locally sourced building materials. Among these are steel elements taken from the demolition of the eastern span of the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge. Spans of steel beams and trusses from the bridge now function as benches, shading devices, and an observation platform for Bayfront Park. The lookout deck was positioned so as to slightly cantilever over the water. The patina on the reused metal corresponds well with the natural surroundings and recalls the history of the site.
Other homages to the maritime past woven into Bayfront Park were a historic seawall transformed into another seating venue. An anchor from the Port of San Francisco acts as a sculpture. Natural elements, such as rip rap rocks used to shield the shoreline, were positioned across the park to integrate a connection with the water. These coastal rocks were also used as pavers along the Bay Trail.
As for the vegetation, Surfacedesign opted to create three different environments that relate to the site conditions. Abutting the water is what the firm calls “coastal scrub,” a combination of sage bushes, yarrow, and other low-lying plants interspersed with rocks. In the portion of the park marked by grassy lawns, closer to the city, Surfacedesign curated an “upland coastal prairie palette” primarily made up of wispy grasses. A third area, the “bioretention gardens” is more than just a habitat. The grasses, milkweed, and planting here manage stormwater runoff and protect the site from flooding. Safeguarding the site from sea level rise is important given that in Mission Bay sea level is estimated to rise three feet by 2100 and a 100-year storm surge would likely bring the waterline up an additional three feet.
At Bayfront Park these startling statistics were addressed and the site’s high elevation means it will outlive those estimates. The land around Bayfront Park has endured for centuries and it is looking like it will last for more. James A. Lord, founding partner of Surfacedesign, echoed this sentiment in a statement, saying “Our hope is that Bayfront Park will become a vibrant San Francisco treasure for generations to come.”