Civic Center Sustainable Utilities District Plan

After two extensive public workshops conducted in 2014, the SFPUC is proud to announce the completion of the Civic Center Sustainable Utility District Plan.

The final plan incorporates the following objectives for San Francisco’s Civic Center:

• Reduce water use and increase water efficiency
• Manage stormwater using green infrastructure
• Reduce energy use and generate renewable energy
• Transform the neighborhood into a vibrant, active, safe area for the public to enjoy
• Incorporate community gathering spaces while honoring the historic context of a National Resource Historic District
• Educate the public about sustainability
• Create public assets for future generations

Outcomes of the Public Workshops

The public workshops discussed the overall vision for Civic Center, water, waste, and energy infrastructure, the public realm, and street concepts. The workshop summary reports can be accessed here:

Workshop #1 Summary Report
Workshop #2 Summary Report

Project Background

Located in the heart of San Francisco, the Civic Center District (please see area map above) is a superb ensemble of Beaux Arts civic architecture that is designated as a National Historic Landmark District. In September 2008, the Civic Center District was designated as a “Sustainable Resource District”, promoting it as a future model for sustainability and cutting-edge environmental technologies. Since this designation, the SFPUC has implemented energy efficiency retrofits and replaced over 500 old plumbing fixtures with ultra-low flow fixtures in several buildings in the District. The SFPUC has funded the installation of solar panels at City Hall and Davies Symphony Hall.

The SFPUC’s Civic Center Sustainable Utilities District Plan, partially funded by a grant from the EPA, builds on this vision. Through the use of a highly collaborative and interactive process, the SFPUC has developed a plan to guide physical changes that will help to transform the District into a vital, active area that reduces its impact on the natural environment by reducing water and energy consumption. The Plan provides a framework and specific design guidelines to achieve quantifiable and measurable environmental goals.

Next Steps

• Open House
  • The SFPUC will host an Open House at 525 Golden Gate Avenue to showcase the final Civic Center Sustainable Utilities District Plan on Wednesday, October 21st at 4:00 pm. Although this event will be public, registration is required prior to the event. Please register.
• Civic Center Public Realm Plan
  • The Sustainable Utilities District Plan is an important guiding document for the San Francisco Planning Department’s Civic Center Public Realm Plan. The Public Realm Plan will incorporate the details of Civic Center’s overall streetscape design.
  • Public Realm Plan kick-off is anticipated towards the end of 2015.

Have any questions? Please email Anna Roche.