The Exquisite One Powell Building
The exquisite historic restoration project of San Francisco, completed by Rainbow Waterproofing & Restoration, highlights our commitment to preserving the architectural heritage of this great city.
Constructed in the early 20th century, the One Powell Building stands as a testament to our city’s rich history and architectural beauty.
This iconic structure, located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, has undergone an 18-month meticulous restoration process to revive its original grandeur while incorporating modern amenities.
Recognizing the significance of this architectural gem, a comprehensive restoration plan was initiated to breathe new life into the significant historic landmark.
One Powell’s Historic Restoration Project in San Francisco
The eight-story historic granite building, erected in 1908, by AP Giannini shares the personality and Italian touch of Giannini who wanted to move his Bank of Italy from its headquarters on Montgomery after the 1906 earthquake to a more modern location. This new area was particularly appealing due to its adjacent vicinity to the cable car turnaround and the corridor that linked Union Square to Market Street.
Led by the team at Rainbow, the Baroque style Architecture on One Powell’s façade exhibits a high level of detailed stone ornamentation and craftsmanship that is no longer constructed.
The Sparkling Facade
The granite facade sparkles in the sunlight after being cleaned. This sparkling effect after cleaning is often attributed to the natural crystals present in the granite. Since granite is a type of igneous rock composed mainly of quartz, feldspar, and mica crystals–when the surface is cleaned, it removes dirt, dust, and other contaminants, allowing the natural crystals to reflect and refract sunlight, creating a sparkling appearance.
The revitalized One Powell Building sparkles as a symbol of San Francisco’s unique historical and cultural landmarks.
Historic Restoration Services
The historic restoration project in San Francisco began with a thorough assessment of the building’s structural integrity and historical features. Preservation experts and architects worked in collaboration to ensure that the restoration adhered to strict guidelines set by historical preservation guidelines.
The goal was to retain the building’s original design elements, such as its distinctive facade, ornate detailing, and period-specific architectural features.
Rainbow’s team, followed a comprehensive, well-planned process orchestrated alongside our incredible partners including:
- DWS Asset Management Group
- Jones Lang LaSalle
- SPI Holdings
- Page & Turnbull
One of the key challenges of the restoration process was balancing the preservation of historical authenticity with the integration of modern functionality. With a team of experts, Rainbow and our partners worked diligently to ensure One Powell’s structural integrity and the dynamic restoration of historical features.
One Powell Structural Integrity and Historical Features
The project had two separate ownership groups with two separate scheduled time frames. The work involved:
- Three lower levels of commercial tenant space occupied by T Mobile during construction and owned by Deutsche Asset Management.
- Five upper levels of rental apartment units owned by SPI Holdings.
The goal was to satisfy San Francisco Ordinance #67-16–Façade Ordinance–set forth by the city of San Francisco on April 26th, 2016 while maintaining the integrity of the historic masonry and the steel windows in the building façade.
The following work items were performed:
- Historic steel window restoration, waterproofing, glass replacement, and painting.
- Historic granite cleaning, spall repair, crack mending, and repointing.
- Replacement of the terracotta baluster replacement.
- Historic terra cotta cleaning, spall and crack repair, and repointing.
- Historic sheet metal cornice restoration.
- Cement plaster restoration and painting.
All work was thoroughly reviewed by implementing a detailed mock-up approval process. Page & Turnbull Architects, who specializes in historic architecture, provided a detailed review of materials and methods of construction to satisfy Historical guidelines.
The exterior restoration involved meticulous cleaning and repair of the building’s intricate facade. Skilled artisans painstakingly restored decorative elements, ensuring that the original craftsmanship was preserved. Additionally, the roofing and windows were replaced with materials that matched the historical context while meeting contemporary energy efficiency standards.
Internally, the restoration focused on preserving the building’s original layout and architectural details. Original moldings, woodwork, and other features were carefully restored or replicated to maintain the period aesthetic.
Revitalizing community service establishments and building stakeholder trust extends to the community as a beautifying statement of the building’s historical charm.
Revitalizing the Beauty of One Powell
Rainbow works every day to ensure that we are paying close attention to all aspects of historic building restoration projects that are outlined and agreed upon before starting jobs. We strive toward results that are pleasing to the eye as with the revitalization of the One Powell Building.
Our Goal: Happy Results
Here are some comments our project manager received:
“We want to thank you and your team for completing this project in such a professional manner during construction. Your team was so well organized that we spent much less time on One Powell than we did on less complicated projects.”
The completion of the historic restoration of the One Powell Building marks a significant milestone in San Francisco’s ongoing efforts to protect and celebrate its rich history.
This project showcases the city’s dedication to maintaining the unique character of its built environment while adapting to the needs of a modern urban landscape. The revitalized One Powell Building stands as a living testament to the harmonious coexistence of the past and the present in one of America’s most iconic cities, our Beloved San Francisco.
Rainbow celebrates over 10,000 jobs, working with our esteemed partners, community building owners, city officials, and on landmark properties throughout Northern California.
As a leading waterproofing and restoration company, Rainbow recognizes the value of ensuring a high level of professionalism and expertise for every single job.
Rainbow delivers expertise and success for historic restoration projects in San Francisco. Contact the Rainbow team today!
