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"The Urban Design Element ...is a concerted effort to
recognize the positive attributes of the city, to enhance
and conserve those attributes, and to improve the living
environment where it is less than satisfactory. The flan
is a definition of quality, a definition based upon human
needs." -The San Francisco Urban Design Element I.5.1
This quarter the Cal Poly San Francisco Urban Design Class
is working on ,the. redevelopment of the Transbay Area.
Our site is located in the Souh of Market Area arid is
hounded by Market Street on the North, Spear Street on
the Bast, Bryant Street on the South and Second Street
on the West: For most of us, the Transbay redevelopment
is our first urban design project, thus offering us new
challenges and opportunities. A few of the issues we have
encountered include designing a pedestrian network of
open spaces, creating an identity for the area; and developing
the Transbay into a gateway for San Francisco.
We are curently in the design development phase and have
recently had our first review with members of the City
Planning Department. During the review each of our four
teams presented their design proposals followed by suggestions
and comments by the three reviewers. Overall we received
helpful criticism; which proved to he a useful reality
check; although this is a student project in which we
are developing our ideal visions of the future, we were,
reminded that a few of our ideas would be difficult to
implement in society. This reminder was not aimed at reducing
'our creativity; but rather at increasing our awareness
of the difficulties involoved in proposing a radical'
deign to a political and economic system that is wary
of change.
With only two weeks remaining, we are all diligently (and
frantically) revising our deigns and preparing for our
final review.
On behalf of the Fall 1997 Class, I encourage all of
you to consider the San Francisco Urban Design Internship
as part of your Cal Poly education and your future.
The San Francisco Design. Internship has given me the
reassurance and confidence necessary for pursuing a career
in architecture.
-Karen Crocker
