The Mint Project, the extensive restoration effort focused on the preservation of the historic Old Mint Building in downtown San Francisco, is focused on the extensive restoration and transformation of this National Historic Landmark into a new, one-of-a-kind San Francisco experience. It aims to achieve the first LEED Platinum certification for a National Historic Landmark in the United States.
HOK has teamed with Arup to collaborate on the building systems strategy. In addition to striving for the first LEED Platinum certification for a National Historic Landmark in the United States, HOK and Arup are developing a plan that will convert the building from a 19th-century landmark to an innovative, 21st-century cultural institution. The design concept leverages the building’s inherent sustainable features and minimizes the need for additional mechanical systems, resulting in a naturally ecological design solution. HOK and Arup are also developing ways to offset the building’s carbon footprint through the use of surrounding energy and water sources. The intent is that the building will not only serve as a model for environmentally conscious renovations of historic buildings, but also as a symbol of the future of urban sustainable design.
HOK and Arup will complete the design plan by the end of 2009 and begin implementation in 2010. Scheduled to open its doors in 2013, the new museum will celebrate San Francisco’s global impact and share extraordinary stories of the individuals and innovations that continue to shape the city, the nation, and the world. Employing a story-centric approach and incorporating interactive exhibits, historically significant artifacts, and cutting-edge technology, the museum will be a starting point for visitors and locals to begin their San Francisco cultural experience and a gateway to the other rich cultural, historic, and neighborhood offerings throughout the Bay. In this vein, the museum will create a vibrant interactive community, continually prompting visitors to share their stories from the past, historical perspectives on contemporary issues, and predictions for the future.
