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Golden Gate University

February 9, 2013 By
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San Francisco, CA
2011 – present

Challenge

In the late 1990′s, Golden Gate University began the process of establishing a multi-year institutional master plan. Having completed the first phases, MKThink was brought on in 2011 to realign the master planning effort to the university’s current needs and goals. The analysis included an investigation of potential program and space deficiencies, opportunities, and infrastructure concerns.

Approach

MKThink began with an extensive data collection of facility, user, and room scheduling information. This dataset served as the baseline for a rigorous facility and programmatic needs analysis. Additional data was gathered by conducting on-site investigations, running several university-wide surveys, and holding weekly discussions with a selected group of staff and faculty. With a detailed understanding of the existing conditions of Golden Gate University, both building and program inefficiencies and opportunities emerged. In particular, MKThink discovered:

- There was a sizeable surplus of classroom space with respect to the scheduling and enrollment data.
- Students lacked sufficient informal and group study areas.
- Book storage in the University Library took up valuable space that could be utilized as study areas.
- Office space was inefficiently organized, and broken into inflexible departmental silos.
- There was a strong desire to create a space for adjunct faculty.
- The university lacked a central gathering space or hub for students that could strengthen campus identity.

Solution

Based on these findings, MKThink developed strategies that focused on each particular need. The classroom inventory was adjusted and rightsized according to the course scheduling, enrollment data, and changing educational pedagogies. Conceptual programs which detailed adjacencies for faculty and staff were developed, and office space standards were updated. More study spaces for students were created, as well as meeting rooms for staff and faculty. A central quad and student hub was designed within the existing building to promote school identity, and a new entrance into the university’s main building was introduced in order to strengthen campus connectivity.

For the university, two proposed plans were developed: an optimized plan, and an applied one. The first focused on program alone, in terms of needs, goals, and ideal adjacencies. Unrestricted by building constraints, this program served as an ideal configuration of Golden Gate University, and would prove extremely valuable if the university were to relocate in the future. The applied plan was a refined version of the first, a best-fit scenario contained within the existing facilities envelope that acknowledges the request to keep costs at a minimum.

MKThink has been asked to implement the applied plan, and construction of the first phase is scheduled to begin the summer of 2013.

Filed Under: Featured Work, Learning, Projects, Workplace

Jim Russell Racing Drivers School

April 3, 2012 By

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“Pole Position”

Infineon Raceway

Sonoma, CA

2007

Challenge

Infineon Raceway is a stark departure from the otherwise calm serenity of Sonoma’s rolling landscape. Here it’s about speed, racing and being loud. It’s about metal and machine. Testosterone and technology. An odd combination of adrenaline and octane where humans and their machines push each other to the limit and sometimes past it. Extending the excitement of the track to the classroom and doing so in a cost effective manner were the key drivers for this project’s design and approach.

Approach

The aesthetic and sensory attributes of the design embody a not-so-lightly veiled reference to racing and high performance driving: metal, glass, motion, curves and color. Oh, it’s environmentally friendly too.

Results

The new Jim Russell Racing Drivers School is comprised of a learning and demonstration environment, media center, café, and lounge overlooking the track at Turn 1 of this storied raceway. The building solution successfully met the project goals – to create an affordable, high-performance teaching facility to support and expand the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School and its driving skills programs.

Filed Under: Featured Work, Projects, Workplace

Mission Creek Sports Park

April 2, 2012 By


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Kayak House and Maintenance Pavilion

San Francisco, CA

2008

Challenge

What can a city do with the odd, neglected space under a freeway? In San Francisco where an abandoned three-acre parcel occupies space below several freeway off-ramps, the answer is Mission Creek Sports Park. It is a “whimsical yet functional community destination”, reports San Francisco Chronicle columnist, John King.

Approach

Who says that utilitarian buildings need to be boring? MKThink’s focus was the creation of two simple yet dramatic structures. The Kayak House securely stores 20 human-powered watercraft and its eye-catching design, with marine grade wood slats and translucent blue poly-carbonate skin. It pays homage to the historic wooden ships that used to ply Mission Bay. A Maintenance Pavilion, the underlying structure of which is a cost-effectively pre-engineered metal building frame, borrows a similar exterior vocabulary and stylishly houses public restrooms and park & recreation equipment. Serving as counterpoints to one another, the two structures challenge the preconception that utilitarian structures must be boring—something to be hidden rather than celebrated. Here both structures add dramatic and playful flair to an urbanscape otherwise dominated by freeway fly-overs, and serve as visual anchor points to the park. Both feature fanciful skins that reference the site’s nautical context.

“…this park beneath freeway ramps is a surprising joy…add a kayak storage building by MKThink that suggests a billowing tent of translucent blue plastic, and the result is genuinely unique. In other words, the kind of spot that makes a redevelopment district start to feel like a real neighborhood.”

- John King
“Decade in review: Top 10 in S.F. Architecture”
The San Francisco Chronicle, January 2010

Filed Under: Community, Featured Work, Projects

Marina Theater

September 19, 2011 By

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“Restoring a Neighborhood Treasure”

San Francisco, CA

2008

Challenge

How can you secure the economic viability of the highly-desirable small neighborhood theater in today’s milieu of big chain multiplexes?   Changing market dynamics have forced single-screen cinemas to evolve in order to survive, both as successful enterprises and neighborhood amenities.  While the original 1928-built single-screen theater failed in the early 2000’s at the time when corporate multiplexes had crowded an already tight market using lower margins and greater marketing reach, the community still desired a first-run local theater.  San Francisco’s Neighborhood Theater Foundation, the building owner, and a new theater operator each had different metrics for the success of this project.

Approach

MKThink and the building owner took an inclusive approach to work closely with the Neighborhood Theater Foundation and City to help negotiate a solution that would be economically viability in today’s multiplex world, yet resurrect the Marina Theater.  Acting as architect and part-liaison, MKThink developed plans that met the economic thresholds and local interests.

Solution

MKThink completely renovated the building and reworked the plans to accommodate a two-screen theater and a major retail anchor tenant.  The historic building façade was cleaned and restored with dramatic lighting befitting a center-stage building in this neighborhood.  This solution was embraced by the neighborhood community and unanimously approved by the San Francisco Planning Commission. The theater reopened and resumed its important role as a community focal point.

“It’s incredible to have this great gathering space returned to our community”
- Nikki Tankursley, Marina resident

Filed Under: Community, Featured Work, Projects

Crissy Field Center

September 6, 2011 By

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San Francisco, CA
2008

San Francisco has a new icon thanks to the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the National Park Service. Project FROG’s latest smart building is located on the beautiful San Francisco waterfront at Crissy Field’s East Beach. The new interim home for Crissy Field Center demonstrates model practices in sustainability which further advances their environmental education programs for local youth. With LEED Gold certification underway, the 7,436 sf state-of-the-art facility will be one of the most technologically-advanced, energy-efficient buildings in existence and will adhere to the most stringent green certification standards. The Center features high-performance classrooms, a science lab, an art room, administrative space as well as a cafe.

Filed Under: Community, Featured Work, Projects