Embarcadero Promenade Design Criteria...Jan 13, 2011 · The Embarcadero Promenade extends from the Ballpark to Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf 0 0.125 0.25 Miles 0.5 r et Ballpark

January 13, 2011

Draft for Public Review

Embarcadero Promenade Design Criteria

Prepared By:

E m b a r c a d e r o P r o m e n a d e D e s i g n C r i t e r i a

Draft for Public Review January 13, 2011

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Embarcadero Promenade Design Criteria


This document is also available on the Port’s website at: www.sfport.com

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact: Port of San Francisco, Planning & Development Division Pier 1 San Francisco, CA 94111 415.274.0400

2 E m b a r c a d e r o P r o m e n a d e D e s i g n C r i t e r i a


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Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Promenade Zones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Curb Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Circulation Corridor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Building Edge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Promenade Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Site Furnishings Standard to The Promenade . . . . . Tenant Furnishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ferry Building Cafe Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Covered Outdoor Dining Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bulkhead Buildings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Design Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bulkhead Opening Hierarchy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Central Arch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1 Entry Canopy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2 Commercial Identity Signage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-3 Tenant Identity and Public Signage . . . . . . . . . .

Secondary Building Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1 Cargo Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2 Circulation Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3 Large Embarcadero Openings. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Minor Openings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-1 Minor Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C-2 Minor Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Project Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Table of Contents

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Introduction

The Embarcadero Promenade extends from the Ballpark to Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf

0 0.250.125Miles

0.5

Market Street

Ballpark

Fisherman’s Wharf

Ferry Bldg

3rd Street

The Embarcadero Promenade is the major continuous waterfront walkway along the Port of San Francisco’s northern waterfront. It is the multiuse pathway on the waterside of The Embarcadero Roadway located between the curb and the waterfront build-ings and is also known as Herb Caen Way. The Promenade extends from Third Street at the AT&T Ballpark at its south end, to the entry of Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf at its north end. The Embarcadero Roadway and Promenade were constructed between 1993 and 2000 as part of the Waterfront Transpor-tation Projects, a $700 million public effort by City, State and Federal agencies that replaced the Embarcadero Freeway and Beltline Railroad with a multi-modal urban boulevard.

Today, at almost three miles long and about 25 feet wide, the Promenade and its con-tiguous spaces provide over 16 acres of public open space and is the place where many form their impressions of the San Francisco waterfront. This wide multi-use pathway located between the Roadway curb and the historic pier bulkhead buildings and sheds, includes street and bulkhead ten-ant furnishings, roadway and other signage and public art. The Promenade is within the Embarcadero Waterfront National Register Historic District, which is composed of the wharfs, piers, pier sheds, bulkhead buildings (pier-head structures fronting The Prom-enade), the seawall, and other waterfront spaces constructed at the Bay edge and over the Bay from Pier 45 in the north to Pier 48 south of China Basin Channel. The Promenade and other spaces around the Vicinity map of The Promendade

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The Embarcadero Promenade near Pier 33

buildings provide historic setting and context for the buildings in the District.

For the past 150 years The Embarcadero has provided access to the Port’s maritime piers and businesses and does so today as the Port continues to evolve from traditional cargo uses into an urban waterfront. The Promenade’s historic use for rail access and maritime purposes has also evolved with the Port. Today it continues to provide ac-cess for maritime and commercial uses, and also for the public’s enjoyment of the newer public oriented uses along the waterfront. As such, The Promenade is not designated as a City sidewalk for exclusive pedestrian use; it is a multiuse pathway for maritime functions, access to piers, recreation, and bicycle transportation.

Preparing the Promenade

Design CriteriaThe Embarcadero Promenade Design Criteria (Promenade Criteria) provide policy and design direction to further improve public circulation and place-ment of street furnishings and other public and tenant improvements within the Promenade. After initial public presentation to the Port Commission on January 10, 2006, the Promenade Criteria were prepared based on analysis and understanding of existing conditions and functions, comments from the public and Port tenants and developer partners, and application of

design principles from the Port’s Design & Access Element of the Waterfront Land Use Plan. Design principles in the Promenade Criteria were also compared with other ma-jor urban boulevards around the world.

The Promenade Criteria were again present-ed to the Port Commission on February 24, 2009 and have undergone review in public meetings held by the Waterfront Design Advisory Committee and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Com-mission (BCDC) Design Review Board, and at the Port’s citizen advisory committee meetings. The Promenade Criteria were developed in part to address California State Offi ce of Historic Preservation (OHP) concerns about consistent treatment of hisrtoric resources, to ensure design direc-tion is generally appropriate for the Historic District and consistent with Secretary of the Interior Standards for Historic Rehabilita-tion (Secretary Standards) for amenities to buildings within the Embarcadero Waterfront National Register Historic District. Many of the proposed design criteria are based on best practices that were incorporated in OHP approvals of earlier Port development projects that rehabilitated Historic contribut-ing resources.



Purpose of the

Promenade CriteriaThe Embarcadero Promenade Criteria are intended to improve the core functions of The Promenade as a multi-use public cor-ridor and access way to the Port’s pier facili-ties, in a manner appropriate to the Historic District. The Promenade’s popularity at peak times has resulted in confl icts as many users compete for space. The central cor-ridor of The Promenade used for circulation is restricted in some areas due to the com-bined placement of light poles, signs, litter receptacles, and public art. Port tenant and developer partners also vie for space with proposals to add benches, outdoor cafés, planters and signage, and waterfront visitors request greater public amenities.

To address the needs of different waterfront users the Promenade Criteria are intended to promote the following objectives:

Cleanup – The Prom-enade so that it functions and appears its best; determine what furniture and improvements are appropriate for the Prom-enade and where they should be located;

Organize – the public and private improve-ments; identify different activities zones and the furnishing and improvements that should be permitted in each zone; and

Defi ne – specifi c design criteria for furnish-ings and other improvements that support public enjoyment of the waterfront and further historic consistency.

Port Land Use and

Design PoliciesThe Waterfront Design & Access Element (WD&A) of the Port’s Waterfront Land Use Plan contains policies for urban design, open space, views and historic resources, and criteria to guide design decisions along the Port’s waterfront. The Promenade Crite-ria as incorporated into the WD&A, provide specifi c design direction for improvements on and adjacent to The Promenade. The Promenade Criteria generally do not apply to improvements beyond the front of the bulkhead buildings, where improvements will be evaluated on an individual basis with the WD&A.

The Promenade Criteria follow Public Ac-cess and Open Space policy adopted in the WD&A that provides direction for addressing improvements to public spaces. The WD&A “Character” policy states that open spaces are to be designed as “. . . an architectural backdrop to the waterfront’s spectacular natural and built features. Improvements are to be simple and minimalist in form and

Circulation Corridor

Curb Area Building Edge

Min. 16’ width

Zones of The Promenade: Curb Area (green), Circulation Corridor (red), and Building Edge (yellow)

Purpose

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Maritime, public and tenant uses on The Promenade

character to allow the natural beauty of the waterfront and views to and from the Bay to cast the strongest visual image.” This policy directs the architectural character for site furnishings in the Promenade Criteria.

The Promenade Criteria organize The Promenade into three distinct and continu-ous “zones” – the curb area, circulation corridor, and building edge. The Promenade Criteria provide direction and dimensions for character, function, and types of furnishings or other improvements that are acceptable within each. For the Ferry Building area and other specifi c locations, the Promenade Cri-teria include site-specifi c criteria to address unique conditions and enhance the public space consistent with WD&A policies. In addition to the descriptions of the zones, the Promenade Criteria describe the following:

Promenade Furnishings – Where and what type of standardized site furnishings are to be used for benches, bike racks, litter receptacles and wayfi nding signs.

Tenant Furnishings – Where furnishings for tenant café, other retail uses and mari-time tenants can be added consistent with retaining priority consideration for pedestrian circulation demands, and the criteria for the design, selection and placement of those improvements.

Ferry Building Café Criteria – For the 30-foot width zone of The Promenade adja-cent to the Ferry Building, the Promenade

Criteria provide direction for how overhead coverings and railings may be added in café and market areas.

Covered Outdoor Dining Areas Where and how partially enclosed outdoor dining structures may be designed and placed adjacent to the sides of certain bulk-head buildings.

Bulkhead Buildings – How entry cano-pies, window awnings, signage and lighting might be added to the buildings in a compat-ible manner while maintaining their historic character.

Applying The

Promenade CriteriaThe Promenade Criteria are a component of the Waterfront Design & Access Element within the Public Access and Open Space chapter and in the WD&A Appendix. The Promenade Criteria will inform the public, tenants, developers, and Port staff of how changes and additions may occur on The Promenade.

The Promenade Criteria will also be used to guide project evaluation for consistency with the Secretary’s Standards. For projects that apply for benefi ts under the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program, the OHP will retain in-dependent authority to review improvements for consistency with the Secretary Stan-dards, along with the National Park Service.



Promenade Zones

EmbarcaderoRoadway

Sidewalk BulkheadBuilding

Bike

Lan

e

Curb

A

rea

Circ

ulat

ion

Corr

idor

Build

ing

Edge

5’ 10’

CirculationCorridor

Curb Area

Building Edge

Similar to other great urban boulevards, The Embarcadero Promenade has a layout and function that is easily expressed in three zones:

Circulation Corridor – the central space of The Promenade where people traverse the length of the waterfront;

Curb Area – a transition zone between the roadway and The Promenade where street lights, roadway signs and pedestrian furnishings are placed; and

Building Edge – a space to transition between the building and The Promenade, where people enter and exit the build-ing and where retail tenants can establish street-level identity.

The Promenade zones and acceptable improvements within those zones are fur-ther described in the following pages. The Promenade Criteria generally do not apply to improvements beyond the front of the bulkhead buildings, where improvements will be evaluated on an individual basis with the WD&A.

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5’ 10’

EmbarcaderoRoadway


Curb Area

CirculationCorridor

Building Edge

Bike

Lan

e

Curb

A

rea

Circ

ulat

ion

Corr

idor

Build

ing

Edge

Remove uneededdriveway aprons

Light Pole

Alignment B:Roadway signage, parking meters

Alignment A:light poles,interpretive signage, wayfinding, postal boxes and litter receptacles

Alignment B:Roadway signage, parking meters

Alignment A:light pole, interpretive signage,litter receptacles

Elevation View

Plan View

xIdentify and remove uneeded driveway cuts

Organize fi xtures and furnishings into two alignments

Alignment B:

Roadway Signage

Alignment A:

Light Poles

The Curb Area is the linear space between the street edge and the alignment of the roadway light poles. Along The Embar-cadero it varies in width from 5 to 12 feet. The Curb Area is where most of the furnish-ings and fi xtures that have a publicly owned identity are placed. The Curb Area also functions as a buffer between vehicles and pedestrians. Improvements to the Curb Area will include removing unneeded driveway cuts and organizing fi xtures and furnishings into two alignments:

Alignment A - Pedestrian oriented site fur-nishings such as wayfi nding and interpretive signs, postal boxes, and litter receptacles will be located within the alignment of the light poles; and

Alignment B - Roadway related signage will be placed approximately 2 feet from the curb edge and mounted in a consistent man-ner (as per Port details).

Curb Area



Popularity of The Promenade

A 16’ circulation corridor will be maintained.

To obtain a clear circulation corridor raised sections of the Art Ribbon will be made fl ush and interpretive columns will be relocated.

Circulation Corridor

Min. 16’ width

5’ 10’

EmbarcaderoRoadway


Art Ribbon and pavement to be flush for 16’ minimumwidth

Art Ribbonflush with existingpavement to achieve 16 ft width

Interpretive sign pilons to be aligned with light poles

CirculationCorridor

Curb Area

Building Edge

16 ftunobstructedpedestrian passage

16 ftunobstructed

pedestrian passage

Bike

Lan

e

Curb

A

rea

Circ

ulat

ion

Corr

idor

Build

ing

Edge

Elevation View

Plan View

Circulation Corridor The Circulation Corridor is the central zone of The Promenade. It varies in width from 9 to 20 feet and is the place where people walk, skate, run, cycle or stroll. The Prom-enade is also crossed at frequent intervals by a variety of vehicle types that access and service Port tenants and Port operations.

The Circulation Corridor is to be maintained or expanded to a minimum 16 foot clear width to provide for its multimodal use. Furnishings and other improvements will be placed to the sides in the Curb Area and Building Edge zones. Changes to The Promenade to create this width will include modifi cations to two public art components of The Embarcadero Roadway project:

Art Ribbon – The continuous 5 foot wide light-colored concrete strip with a glass block inlay that extends from Pier 38 in the south to Pier 33 in the north,that references the historic seawall below. The Art Ribbon is constructed fl ush with The Promenade for most of its length, and also includes many raised sections built at a seat height. To achieve a 16-foot width, raised sections primarily in areas north of the Ferry Building will be reconstructed to be fl ush with adja-cent pavement, in a manner respecting the continuity of the Art Ribbon; and

Interpretive Sign Pylons – The 13 foot tall black and white poles that contain historic waterfront information. Many of the sign pylons will be relocated from the Circu-lation Corridor to be in the alignment of the Roadway light poles within the Curb Area.

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5’ 10’

CirculationCorridor

Curb Area

Location for public and tenant-provided furnishings

Building Edge

Furnishings standard to The Promenade: Bench and bike racks

Signage and entry canopy

Building Edge The Building Edge area has dual purposes of providing an entry space at the front door of bulkhead buildings, and in some locations being a space for furnishings for general public use or tenant cafés (with a Port ap-proved permit, lease or license, and approv-al by BCDC). The Building Edge begins at the waterside edge of the Art Ribbon along most of The Promenade, and extends to the face of the bulkhead and pier buildings. The Building Edge is always outside of the area defi ned as the Circulation zone. These Promenade Criteria identify standard Prom-enade Furnishings and criteria for Tenant Furnishings that may be appropriate within the Building Edge area and are described further in this document. Proposals to place furnishings within the Building Edge zone will be reviewed in a larger context to ensure that the appropriate historic setting of the bulkheads is maintained.

Improvements within the Building Edge zone will have a mix of furnishings with a public and/or tenant identity. Furnishings or other improvements must also be compatible with the historic industrial character and consis-tent with the Secretary’s Standards. Fur-nishings may include:

• Benches, bicycle racks and building lighting that are to be standard through-out The Promenade;

• Café railings, planters, umbrellas, and seating; and

• Awnings, canopies and signage at-tached to the bulkhead buildings and lighting, as further described in the Promenade Criteria.

Building Edge furnishings are categorized and further described as either Promenade Furnishings or as related to tenant use of the bulkhead building.



Bicycle Rack

Iron and wood bench

Promenade Furnishings

The Promenade Criteria include site fur-nishing selections for four standard items – benches, bicycle racks, litter receptacles, and wayfi nding signs. The Promenade Furnishings are selected to have a publicly owned character and be consistent with the Waterfront Design & Access Element policy of being “an architectural backdrop to the waterfront’s spectacular natural and built features”. Promenade Furnishings are to be placed in the Building Edge and Curb Area zones as follows:

Building Edge – locate benches and bicycle racks adjacent to bulkhead buildings in a manner that complements the his-toric architectural features of the bulkhead buildings, and where not intruding upon the Circulation Corridor or the Art Ribbon.

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Way-fi nding sign – includes maps of the waterfront and City

Litter receptacle – stainless steel, side opening, resistant to birds, corrosion, graffi ti and rain, and includes a recycling container

Curb Area – litter Receptacles and way-fi nding signs – locate in alignment of the Roadway lightpoles;

Promenade Furnishings are selected for their simple, monochromatic character, and meet additional Waterfront Design & Ac-cess Element criteria of being – “functionally appropriate” for their use, “complementary” to the character of the waterfront setting, “durable”, and “maintainable”. Contact Port staff for specifi cations for Promenade Furnishings.

Other publicly identifi ed site furnishings that are likely to be appropriate for the Curb Area but may not be of a standard design include post boxes, fi re hydrants, parking meters and pay stations, roadway signage and vari-ous utilities, and are to be organized in the alignment of the light poles or adjacent to the curb with roadway signage.



Tenant Furnishings

Planters with simple forms and sturdy materials

Tenant furnishings are improvements that serve or enhance the uses within the adja-cent buildings by visually informing the pub-lic of their presence, providing outdoor café space and adding pedestrian amenities. Tenant furnishings may provide individual tenant identity, and must be compatible with the historic setting and consistent with the Secretary’s Standards. Tenant furnishings generally include low café railings, plant-ers, tables, chairs, other types of seating, umbrellas, signage, litter receptacles, and bollards.

Sidewalk café areas and other tenant furnishings shall respect the defi ned width of the Circulation Corridor, and shall not infringe upon or overhang the light colored concrete of the “Art Ribbon”. The following describes design criteria for tenant furnish-ings:

• Café railings and planters shall have simple sturdy forms that do not attract unnecessary visual attention. Railings shall be metal or concrete, may include glass, and may incorporate signage. Railings or other screens shall not exceed 42-inches in height, and may be fi xed to the concrete or be movable.

• Planters shall have simple and bold forms, be sturdy, and be similar or com-plimentary in color with building fi nishes. Planters shall be constructed of durable materials that do not deteriorate or

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Furnishings appropriate for the Building Edge zone

weather quickly. Plantings shall always be properly maintained.

• Umbrellas shall be fabric, shall have a minimal peak-to-edge vertical dimension so as to maintain a horizontal appear-ance and allow the greatest views of the bulkheads, and may have tenant signage on the valence. They should be able to be collapsed, retracted, or easily removed, although may be joined to withstand wind. Umbrellas may con-tain heaters and lights directed toward the sidewalk. Umbrellas may not oc-cur where the adjacent windows have awnings.

• Bollards shall have a simple industrial character that does not draw unneces-sary visual attention and shall be fi n-ished in a color similar or complimentary to the bulkhead buildings. Refl ective strips shall be included where needed for evening pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Other furnishings not specifi ed above shall have simple and bold forms, be sturdy, be of materials that do not deteriorate or weather quickly and be complimentary to the bulk-head buildings.



Ferry Building

Cafe Design Criteria

Simulation of possible umbrellas at north end of Ferry Building Existing restaurant railing at south end of Ferry Building

Standing prominently at the foot of Mar-ket Street with its iconic architecture, the Ferry Building holds civic prominence while continuing to serve as the hub for Bay Area ferry transportation. The Ferry Building’s importance to the City is also expressed with expansive landside public space that extends from Mission to Washington Street, involves City park space to Steuart Street, and includes spaces fronting the Embar-cadero Center and Sue Bierman Park.

The space between the Ferry Building and The Embarcadero Roadway, averag-ing about 55 to 59 feet in width, includes both The Promenade and a 30 foot depth building edge zone reserved for café and market uses. Because of the scale of the Ferry Building and its combined functions as a transportation terminal, public market,

and public space, the Promenade Criteria include specifi c direction for improvements for the area between the Building and The Promenade. To best facilitate the public’s enjoyment of this area improvements within this zone shall meet the following general criteria:Be of appropriate scale and detailing for the Building;

• Respect the civic quality of the space and serve to humanize in relation to the large Building façade;

• Be changeable to express color, texture, season and business operations;

• Improvements at the north and south ends of the building should be comple-mentary and may not need to be identi-cal;

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• Improvements should respond to and enhance the current uses and activities of the Building; and

• Shall be consistent with the Secretary’s Standards.

Umbrellas and other overhead structures serve to extend the season and hours of operation of café and market areas. To allow weather protection while not visually detract-ing from the historic Ferry Building, umbrel-las or overhead structures shall conform to the following:• Horizontal canopy dimensions shall be

12’ to 18’ (min. and max. dimensions);• Must have defi ned roof peaks at not

greater than 18 foot sections;• Overhead canopy shall be 7’-6” to 11’

feet from the pavement;

• Flexible fabric top that is an off-white color;

• Shall not substantially block Promenade views of the Ferry Building’s arched windows;

• Able to be collapsed, retracted, or easily removed, although may be joined to cre-ate rain gutters or withstand wind;

• May contain lights and heaters directed toward the sidewalk; and

• Shall not contain signage.

Other improvements including railings and planters shall be consistent with the criteria for ‘Tenant Furnishings’ described in the Promenade Criteria.

Umbrellas at a historic building in Madrid, Spain, similar in scale to the Ferry Building – 10-12’ width umbrellas.

12’ minimum to 18’ maximumcanopy dimension

7’6”-11’

Canopies to have defined roof peaks and a low horizontal profileOff-white color fabric

1’ 2’ 4’

Ferry Building’s arched windows (beyond)

Dimensions of possible umbrellas in Ferry Building Cafe area



Covered Outdoor

Dining Areas

35

27-295

30-32

38

Locations where a covered dining structure may be permitted to the side of a bulkhead building

North edge of Pier 35 bulkhead building with possible covered dining area

South edge of Pier 38 bulkhead building with possible covered dining area

San Francisco’s cool and breezy climate can challenge the hardiest of outdoor café patrons. In front of the bulkhead buildings within The Promenade’s Building Edge zone café use is permitted with weather protection improvements limited to umbrellas, planters and low railings.

The Port has identifi ed fi ve locations along The Embarcadero at the sides of bulkhead buildings where the space between build-ings is great enough to allow a minor café structure and maintain ample views of the Bay. In these defi ned areas, a partially enclosed café structure may be proposed

to provide a waterfront dining experience with a greater level of weather protec-tion than outdoor café seating. The fi ve locations where such a structure may be permitted are:1. North side of Pier 5 bulkhead2. South side of the freestanding restau-

rant building adjacent to Pier 73. South side of Pier 29 bulkhead4. West side of Pier 35 bulkhead5. North side of Pier 38 bulkhead

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A café structure offering weather protec-tion should have a temporal architectural character and be complementary to the adjacent historic structure and district, and public space uses. The transparency of the structure should promote visual interaction between diners and public space users. Café structures shall also meet the following criteria:

• Maximum 14’ height to peak of canopy roof;

• Shall extend no greater than 30’ hori-zontally from the side of the bulkhead building;

Plan view of possible outdoor dining footprint

Covered Outdoor Dining Area

HistoricBulkhead

Connecting Section

30’ max. from edge of Bulkhead

Art Ribbon

Embarcadero Roadway Curb

Pier 5 Covered Outdoor Dining Area

• Shall be a lesser horizontal dimension than the depth of the adjacent bulkhead building;

• If joined to the bulkhead, the connecting section shall have minimal dimensions to maintain visual separation between the structures, and shall not confl ict with historic features and openings on the adjacent building;

• The roof shall be fabric or similar fl exible material;

• Fixed vertical panels shall not exceed 30” in height;

• Vertical side panels above 30” shall be as transparent as possible, constructed of either fabric or windows that open completely; and

• Shall be compatible with the adjacent structure and the Historic District.



Bulkhead Buildings

Historically the bulkhead buildings along The Embarcadero Promenade were used for maritime offi ces. The bulkheads were also built to provide an architectural facade to the pier sheds. The bulkhead buildings, pier sheds and piers adjacent to The Promenade are contributing resources within the Embar-cadero Historic District and are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

As waterfront structures are altered and rehabilitated, the bulkhead structures will be improved to accommodate new more “public” uses for restaurant, retail and modern offi ces. These Promenade Criteria provide general design direction for cano-pies, awnings, signage and lighting that may be proposed for bulkhead buildings, and will also be reviewed for consistency with the Secretary’s Standards.

Design PrinciplesGenerally, only minor modifi cations to bulk-head structures would be found consistent with the Secretary’s Standards. The criteria

provide design direction for the most com-monly applied bulkhead building features for new uses: awnings, canopies, signage and lighting. Proposed improvements should meet the following:

1) New features such as canopies, awnings and commercial signage shall be distin-guishable as additive elements compatible with the building’s character defi ning ele-ments;

2) Retail and primary tenant signage shall be distinct yet complementary to the build-ing, generally held away from the face of the building;

3) Wayfi nding and directory signage, and subtenant identifi cation shall be minor in size and compatible with the building’s architectural features, materials, colors, and spatial relationships; and

4) Improvements should be consistent across an entire building or closely related group of buildings.

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Entries and openings on bulkhead buildings are described in three categories that refl ect the size and intended function of the open-ings. The Promenade Criteria for canopies, awnings and signage are based on the opening type, their function, and importance to the building.

A - Central ArchArchitecturally the central arch is the main point of entry and historically it provided access to bulkhead and pier uses. The Central Arch continues as the location for the primary bulkhead or pier tenant entry and identity. Design criteria for the central arch are organized into three categories:A-1 Central Arch AreaA-2 Commercial Identity Signage A-3 Tenant Identity & Public Signage

B - Secondary OpeningsThe secondary openings are large ground level openings ranging from 16-25 feet wide that historically and currently are used for pedestrian access to the pier aprons and uses within the bulkheads. Design criteria for the secondary openings are organized into three categories:B-1 Cargo Openings (not shown below)B-2 Circulation OpeningsB-3 Large Embarcadero Openings

C - Minor OpeningsMinor openings consist of minor ground level doors and windows and second-story windows. Design criteria for the minor open-ings are organized into two categories:C-1 Minor EntriesC-2 Minor Windows

Bulkhead Opening

Hierarchy



Central Arch

Canopy dimensions at bulkhead arch Canopy at Pier 1

A-1 Central Arch The central arch is the main entrance where vehicles and people access bulkhead and pier uses. The central arches have a grand scale befi tting the ‘City Beautiful’ movement style that was fashionable when they were built. Central arch dimensions are typically a six-foot architectural depth, 30 to 35 feet in width, and 28 to 35 feet tall.

As the piers and bulkheads are rehabili-tated, some piers will limit the central arch to pedestrian access. As windows and doors are added within the bulkhead central arch improvements should generally conform to the following:

• Windows, doors and other storefront as-semblies should be recessed as far into the arch area as possible;

• A horizontal canopy above pedestrian doors may be added with a maximum depth of 6 feet, with the width limited to the width of the arch opening;

• Canopy materials should be metal and glass;

• Signage may be added to the canopy or windows within the arch if held away from the windows; and

• Signage may be cutout-letters, having a total height (1 or 2 lines of text) of up to 18 inches in height.

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Central Arch(continued)

Signage location adjacent to central arch Banner sign at Pier 3

A-2 Commercial Identity

Signage Retail and primary tenant signage may be added in a manner that is distinguishable from the building and its historic character defi ning features. Generally, it should be held away from the building wall and appear distinct, yet complementary to the building. Adjacent to the central arch are wide archi-tectural columns where commercial signage may be added:

• Signage may be banner or blade signs mounted perpendicular to the building wall or held away from the face of the building;

• Appropriate sign size is 8 to 14 feet tall by up to 3 feet wide;

• Signs should be located above the fi rst level of windows or other architectural features; and

• Signs should be installed in pairs.



Central Arch(continued)

Signage on quoins at Pier 9 Signage on quoin at Pier 5

A-3 Tenant Identity &

Public SignageAs the piers and bulkheads are rehabilitated most will have a mix of maritime and com-mercial tenants. Signage to identify tenants within the pier may be added adjacent to the central arch on the architectural embel-lishments surrounding the arch known as “quoins”, in a manner that appears as an appropriately scaled building directory. The signage should have the following charac-teristics:

• Signage may be located on the lower 3 quoins adjacent to the central arch;

• The signs shall be slightly smaller than the quoins to allow the quoin size to be visible; and

• The materials and colors of the signs should complement architectural fea-tures of the bulkhead building.

Wayfi nding signage for the pier and other public information may be added in a similar manner adjacent to other entrances on quoins, or the building wall if appropriate.

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Secondary

Openings

Pier 29½

Pier 38

The bulkhead secondary openings are large ground level openings ranging from 16 to 25-feet wide that historically provided rail and truck access to pier uses, and in some locations were added to provide pedestrian entrances and windows. As the piers and bulkheads are rehabilitated these openings provide opportunities for visual and physi-cal access to bulkhead uses, pier aprons, and destinations beyond The Embarcadero frontage. Design criteria for the secondary openings are described in the following four categories.

B-1 Cargo OpeningsThe largest of the secondary openings are the cargo openings found on bulkheads at Piers 5 and 26½, 28½, 29½ and 38. The openings are 18 to 23 feet in height and 18 to 25 feet wide, each with a single rollup door. Where there are doors, canopies may be added to bulkheads at Piers 1 through 9, 19, 23, 29, 31, 33 and through 35 only, and should conform to the following:

• A horizontal canopy at a height matching the transom, top of adjacent windows, or other adjacent improvement may be added with its depth not protruding be-yond the adjacent building wall, and the width limited to the width of the opening;

• Canopy materials should be metal and glass; and

• Signage may be added with cutout let-ters, having a total height (1 or 2 lines of text) of up to 18 inches in height. Signage may be added to the canopy or windows within the opening if held away from the windows.

Tenant identifi cation and wayfi nding signage may be added on the building wall adjacent to the openings similar to A-3.

Illustration of possible canopy in Secondary Openings



Secondary

Openings(continued)

Secondary opening at Pier 1½ Secondary opening at Pier 3

B-2 Circulation OpeningsCirculation openings are passage-ways that access uses on the piers or behind the Em-barcadero frontage. Circulation openings are found at Piers 1½, 3, 26½ and 28½. The following improvements and signage may be added to these openings:

• Gates that are transparent as feasible and that are offset behind The Embar-cadero building face;

• Bollards to control vehicle access;

• Commercial tenant signs, up to 12 square feet of sign area per tenant, located within the passage-way either fl ush or perpendicular to the passage-way wall, or on added gates; and

• Way-fi nding or public information signs, up to 2 square feet on The Embarcadero frontage, or 4 square feet within the passageway on the building wall, or on added gates, with the materials and colors of the signs being complemen-tary of the trim features to the bulkhead building.

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Secondary

Openings(continued)

Illustration of a Horizontal Canopy at a Secondary Opening

B-3 Large Embarcadero

Openings The large Embarcadero openings are 18 to 22 feet wide and consist of either double pedestrian doors that are fl anked by win-dows, or only fi rst fl oor windows. When the bulkheads are rehabilitated these openings can be used to access or view retail or other bulkhead tenants. Awnings are not permit-ted at Large Embarcadero Openings. Where there are doors, canopies may be added to bulkheads at Piers 1 through 9, 19, 23, 29, 31, 33 and through 35 only, and should conform to the following:

• Canopies should be horizontal and be at the transom:

• Canopies should have a maximum depth of 6 feet with the width limited to that of the opening;

• Vertical dimension of canopy limited to 12 inches at building and 8 inches at outside edge;

• Canopy materials should be metal and glass; and

• Signage may be added to either the front or sides of the canopy. If the sig-nage is within the vertical profi le of the canopy it may be added to both the front and the sides. If the signage extends beyond the profi le of the canopy it may only be allowed on either the front or sides. Signage exceeding the profi le should be with cutout letters, having a total height (1 or 2 lines of text) of up to 16 inches in height, and limited to 70 percent of the horizontal dimension of the canopy.



Minor Openings

Ground level windows and doors at Pier 1 Canopy at entry to a Minor Opening

Minor openings consist of single or double ground level doors and windows and second-fl oor windows. Design criteria for the minor openings are described in the fol-lowing categories.

C-1 Minor EntriesThe minor bulkhead entries doors are used to access major and smaller retail and offi ce tenants and service uses for the building. Improvements to accommodate identity and weather protection may be allowed at en-trances to retail and offi ce uses and should conform to the following:

• An awning or canopy may be added to minor entries on bulkheads at Piers 1-9, 19, 23, 29, 31, 33 and 35 only;

• Awnings and canopies should be hori-zontal and be at the transom;

• Canopies should have a maximum depth of 5 feet with the width limited to that of the opening, with a thin top sheathing permitted slightly beyond;

• Vertical dimension of the awning or canopy limited to 12-inches at building and 8-inches at outside edge;

• Awning or canopy materials should be metal, glass, and/or fabric; and

• Signage may be added to either the front or sides of the awning or canopy. If the signage is within the vertical profi le of the canopy it may be added to both the front and the sides. If the signage extends beyond the profi le of the awning or canopy it may only be allowed on ei-ther the front or sides. Signage exceed-ing the profi le should be with cutout-letters, having a total height (1 or 2 lines of text) of up to 10-inches in height, and limited to 70-percent of the horizontal dimension of the canopy.

Tenant identifi cation and way fi nding sig-nage may be added on the building wall adjacent to the openings similar to A-2.

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Minor Openings (continued)

C-2 Minor WindowsMinor windows include ground level win-dows that allow views into and out of retail and offi ce uses and second level windows. Awnings may be allowed at ground level windows to control interior light and heat and aid in providing commercial identity. All awnings on a bulkhead building or series of connected buildings should be consistent in design and color across all windows and should conform to the following:

• Adding window awnings will be con-sidered only at the bulkheads at Piers 1-9, 19, 23, 29, 31, 33 and 35 only, and across a portion of the ground level mi-nor windows, generally less than half;

• Awnings should be horizontal and at the line of the window transom;

• Awnings should have a maximum depth of 5 feet with the width limited to that of the opening;

• Vertical dimension of awning limited to 12 inches at building and 8-inches at outside edge;

• Awning materials should be metal, glass, and/or fabric; and

• Signage may be added to the fabric.

Awnings at ground level windows Second level windows - awnings not permitted



Documents

Embarcadero Promenade Design Criteria...Jan 13, 2011 · The Embarcadero Promenade extends from the Ballpark to Pier 45 in Fisherman’s Wharf 0 0.125 0.25 Miles 0.5 r et Ballpark