The City of San Francisco was tasked with quickly estimating the design costs for the installation of a prefabricated restroom building at Noe Valley Town Square, leading to an unexpectedly high budget that drew public criticism and national media attention. In response to this backlash, the City sought to address the issue promptly.
Given our longstanding collaborative relationship with the City, Verde Design was engaged to create the necessary drawings for the restroom’s placement, which was generously donated by the manufacturer. This project also included the design of a fenced maintenance area, modifications to utilities, adjustments to grade elevations, and enhancements to the planting scheme to integrate the restroom building seamlessly into the plaza. Collaborating with a local landscape architecture consultant, we proposed a new irrigation system and low-water-use planting that aligned with the existing plant palette. Additional tasks encompassed the partial removal of an overhead trellis, stabilization of a nearby bulletin board, and finishing any trimmed edges of the trellis. To accommodate the elevated building pad, we made grading and drainage modifications beneath the porous pavers, ensuring a cohesive appearance throughout the plaza and leading to the restroom. Lastly, a drinking fountain was relocated to facilitate the building’s installation.
Before the construction commenced, 3D renderings of the planned restroom facility were presented to the City and made available to the public to foster enthusiasm for the new addition. In general, Verde Design’s contributions were recognized as significant savings in both cost and time for the City, as the entire project was completed at a fraction of the initially allocated budget. Following the installation of the restroom building, the project has garnered positive feedback from the community, ensuring the plaza’s continued vitality for years ahead.
