May 24, 2017

BCJ redesigns an old jail to welcome Presidio visitors

Photos by Matthew Millman/Bohlin Cywinski Jackson [enlarge]

The center was built in 1900 as the Presidio’s military jail.

[enlarge]

The interiors were restored and updated.

The 7,500-square-foot William Penn Mott, Jr. Presidio Visitor Center in San Francisco was completed earlier this year.

Bohlin Cywinski Jackson designed the center, which welcomes visitors to the former military post and 1,500-acre urban park. Macchiatto was the exhibit designer and Plant Construction was the contractor.

The center is at 210 Lincoln Blvd. on the historic Main Parade. It was originally constructed in 1900 as the Presidio's military jail.

In a press release, BCJ said the center focuses on the Presidio's history, culture and geography.

The building's character and interiors were restored by removing decades of alterations that were made when it was used as a bank and post office. Missing architectural features were reconstructed on the exterior, and modern design elements and technology were integrated throughout.

A porch extends along the front of the building. Inside, the first room has white plaster walls, warm wood finishes and large arched windows. The main feature is a topographic map of the Presidio, surrounded by touch screens where visitors can plan their trip. A video wall presents upcoming events, weather and shuttle options, and an adjacent wall displays merchandise to buy.

The second room, formerly the jail detention area, is now dedicated to interpretive stories. The original barred windows are still in place, and the wood floors are inlayed to reveal the outline of the former jail cells.

An interactive table invites visitors to explore the people, places and things that once existed in the park. An enclosed perch, formerly a 1940s-era loading dock, offers views of the Bay Area.

The Presidio is a California Historical Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. After 219 years of military use, it was transferred to the National Park Service, and now is home to a mix of commercial and public uses. The Presidio Trust, National Park Service and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy oversee the space.

William Penn Mott, Jr. founded the nonprofit California State Park Foundation in 1969, and was director of the National Parks Service from 1985-1989. Mott led conversion of the Presidio from military post to national park.