San Francisco Armory Renovation and Retrofit
The renovation of San Francisco’s Mission Armory turned the old building into a professional space, with room for offices, laboratories, and manufacturing. The six-story building offers over 250,000 square feet of space, including amenities such as a roof deck, café, and on-site gymnasium.
Date Completed: 2020
Client: Advertous Journeys
Architect: TEF Design
Structural Engineer: Holmes Structural
General Contractor: Plant Construction
Rockridge Geotechnical (RG) performed a geotechnical investigation, a seismic assessment, and construction observation services to support the renovation and seismic retrofit of the historic Armory building. Rockridge Geotechnical's investigation identified a potential for liquefaction across approximately half of the building's footprint. The presence of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) tunnels along Mission Street adjacent to the existing basement further complicated retrofit strategies. The selected foundation scheme for the retrofit consisted of a combination of vertical and battered micropiles and helical mini-piles. The piles were installed from the existing basement with limited-access equipment, and they provide the necessary foundation support in the event of liquefaction while also complying with construction requirements in the vicinity of BART tunnels.