The re-development of the Western Furniture Exchange and Merchandise Mart building in San Francisco’s Mid-Market neighborhood created a two-building campus that seamlessly merges state-of-the-art offices with a ground floor community hall. BCV served as lead architect for the ground floor public areas, which integrate a variety of retail purveyors and open the building to the public for the first time since its construction in 1937.

The renovation draws the city fabric in and through to a new landscaped courtyard, re-configuring the interior to allow for an open, light-filled experience. Natural materials, including reclaimed wood from one of the building’s earlier additions, is used throughout. The iconic concrete columns are restored and exposed to remain as space defining elements of the interior, while additional windows and entryways flood light on them and the double-height market they support. BCV collaborated with RMW Architecture + Interiors, BNBuilders and Page & Turnbull on the overall redevelopment of Market Square.