150 Powell, The Odeon, Now Complete
ALAMEDA,
CA – The Odeon, formerly The Elevated Shops in San Francisco is complete
and the 29-market rate condominiums are for sale. This innovative
and historic rehabilitation project connects the past and the future.
This six story structure set on the southeast corner of Powell and O’Farrell incorporates 43,000 square feet of retail space on the first two floors which is retailer H&M’s flagship debut on the west coast. TEK was the Architect for H&M’s interiors. The remaining four-stories are made up of spacious and airy market-rate condominiums.
This mixed-use renovation projects sits at the southeast corner of Powell and O’Farrell in the Union Square area of San Francisco. The 18,900 square foot site contained four buildings, one at 150 Powell with four stories plus a mezzanine level above each of the first three floors. The three additional buildings were demolished and the 150 Powell historical facade was retained and renovated. A ground floor was created and a second floor of retail, and four flours of residential above. A new six-story horizontal addition sits on the footprint of the demolished O’Farrell street buildings.
The building was able to retain the historical façade by using a revolutionary temporary shoring system called Conxtech. The structural system was made from pre-cast planks and beams which are manufactured by and outside source and dropped in one at a time. Concrete is poured on top to make the structure solid. This system is quick and not normal for a housing project.
The original Elevated Shops structure collapsed and was rebuilt after
the earthquakes in San Francisco. The materials were extremely mismatched
probably due to the lack of available materials during the time frame
of reconstruction. Many other buildings were going up around the same
time and there was fierce competition for materials. The elevated
(second story retail) shop was an innovative design in this new building.
It was made possible because of the elevator which was rare at this
time.
John King recently wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle, “ . . . MBH
handled the transition from old to new effectively as well: The exterior
on O'Farrell Street is a series of thick contemporary bays that offer
a solid counterpoint to the airy facades on either side. Developer
Union Property Capital gets credit for stretching the budget to cloak
the new portion in creamy plaster mixed with crushed mica, instead
of standard stucco.” San Francisco Chronicle, September 20, 2006.
MBH Architects, is a diversified and multi-faceted practice, established in 1989 and employing 200 professionals with offices in Alameda and Newport Beach, California. As a comprehensive and service-oriented architectural firm, MBH embodies Design Excellence from the inception of the project through to its successful completion. The firm has designed and completed a wide range of diverse projects in the housing, hospitality, retail, restaurant, mixed use and planning industries. "It’s our people who make great places." ®