Window Replacement at SF Mart Scaffolding Removal Begins

Furniture World Magazine

The window replacement project at the San Francisco Mart has commenced and upon completion, the scaffolding covering the first and second floors will be removed. The job of replacing 800 windows at the Mart, which followed the power washing of the Mart's art-deco façade and terra cotta restoration & repair, started June 2 on Market at Tenth Street and should be complete by early 2004. Scaffolding will be removed in sections with the intent of having part of the Market Street structure down by the July Market. Once the windows are installed, new awnings will be mounted at street level along Market Street. "The tenants have been incredibly patient during this long process," says Linda Corso, senior vice president of operations. "We endeavor to have the window installation and scaffolding removal proceed as quickly as possible now." The new aluminum windows are operable hopper windows that can be easily opened for ventilation and cleaned from the inside. They are designed to match the original steel windows as closely as possible to maintain the historical integrity of the building, but will provide a cleaner, more uniform appearance. Additionally, for safety reasons, the new windows are more flexible and allow for movement of the glass to prevent breakage and are rustproof to better preserve the façade. "The improvements to the building proudly reflect our 66-year heritage at1355 Market Street," says Michael Gennet, SF Mart president. "The owners are making an investment in this Market Center building that is dedicated to the furniture industry." Eric Grossberg, managing director of the ADCO Group in New York, says that the owners of the San Francisco Mart are excited to be restoring the historic terra cotta façade and installing new windows as part of its building-wide improvement program. "The project represents our commitment to providing a first-rate facility for our tenants and the home furnishings industry and will serve as an anchor for the dynamic redevelopment of the Civic Center/Mid-Market district in San Francisco," he says. Carolyn Diamond, executive director of the Market Street Association, is pleased with the work. "The renovation of the SF Mart will restore thishistorical building to its place as a major architectural presence in Mid-Market," says Diamond. "Mid-Market is an historical district, and the SF Mart is one of its jewels." Other neighborhood revitalization projects include a new five building apartment complex at Eighth and Market Streets. The windows are just part of the long-term capital improvements planned for the Mart. In the past few years, the Mart has replaced the roofs of both the Mart 1 and Mart 2 buildings, renovated all hallways with new carpet, paint and lighting, and has also redecorated the parking garage elevator lobby. Additional improvements to the art-deco building include remodeling restrooms on the 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th floors for accessibility, adding a new sound system in the Mart Exchange, and purchasing handsome teak tables and chairs for the Mart 1 Lobby. The San Francisco Mart, which is located at 1355 Market Street between Ninth and Tenth Streets, is open to retail furniture buyers, interior designers and other trade professionals. It hosts to-the-trade-only furniture Markets in January and July, and opens to the public twice yearly for sample sales in May and November. In addition, the two-building complex provides office and retail space for a variety of businesses including Walgreens and the City of San Francisco.