THE PLANT CAFÉ ORGANIC - DOGPATCH SAN FRANCISCO Revitalizing the exposed brick and timbers, original sash windows and concrete floors of this space in the storied 1915 American Can Company sets the backdrop for this location of The Plant Café Organic. At the heart of the Dogpatch neighborhood, the ACC complex was originally dedicated to manufacturing but has evolved into an epicenter for designers, artists, makers, culinary businesses and cultural spaces. Studio BBA’s design approach focused on creating integral outdoor spaces and connections to surrounding businesses. By cutting a new opening through the rear brick wall, we introduced access to the existing courtyard patio, now framed by a beautiful custom mahogany door. An enormous ceramic planter and palm add greenery, and a new window into the adjacent bakery adds interconnectivity. Inside, custom steel and maple shelving and tables, dimensional Heath Ceramics tiles, and truly awesome carnivorous plant-themed wallpaper enliven the space. This café adjoins The Plant Café Organic’s ‘mother ship’ facility, which they affectionately refer to as “the plant of The Plant”—the central kitchen where new and seasonal creations are developed, provisions are prepped and distributed, and their catering operation is housed. The café’s adjacency to this facility lends the atmosphere a tone of inspiration and invention. Back to Projects page Client The Plant Caf é Organic BBA Team Seth Boor Bonnie Bridges Megan McGuinn Size 2,400 SF Contractor Justin Farrelly, Inc. Collaborators Structural: Degenkolb Photography Nicholas V. Ruiz Back to top

DOLORES PARK RESIDENCE SAN FRANCISCO In modernizing this 1907 house via a partial renovation, we focused on introducing a few key features to the interior that capitalize on its perch atop Dolores Heights, and clear the interior of previous interventions. Striking a balance between the clients’ love of entertaining and their desire for introverted space, the design adds an artist/office space, a temperature controlled wine room and a new rear deck. To make full use of the sloping lot’s privacy and incredible light we opened up the ground floor bedrooms to the new deck, giving direct access to views of the yard’s thorough revamp by Groundcover Landscaping . Upstairs, built-in library shelving, new fixtures, and a custom bar bring together the main living and entertaining spaces. Back to Projects page Client Confidential BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Size 2,400 SF Contractor Saturn Construction Collaborators Structural: Semco Engineering Photography Eric Hermann Back to top

PAJARO DUNES HOUSE WATSONVILLE We’ve worked closely with this client over a number of years to create and implement a thoughtful, site-specific design vision for rejuvenating this coastal vacation property, where their extended family congregates. Built right on the sand, this 3-story mid-century house was originally designed by Walter Thomas Brooks—with a futurist upside-down pyramid conceived of as a spaceship landing in the dunes. Its unconventional form, simple materials and proximity to the ocean left the structure a victim of erosion, corrosion and water drainage issues. We began with a big picture, phased master plan to address the conservation and preservation issues in tandem with renovations, and a design strategy that always considers the Brooks’ iconic detailing, the era and the beach atmosphere (both physically and conceptually). Durability is also an integral criteria—to weather the elements, as well as active family use and large gatherings. The new material palette references the surrounding landscape with a base of earthy tones and pops of vibrant colors—in lava stone, mahogany, bronze, copper, integral color plaster. We introduced a custom brown-gray color on the exterior to offset the bright beach environment and new landscaping; identified by observing the variety of hues and surfaces on site throughout the year. Inside we developed the design room by room—embracing the charm and history of existing elements, and using the perspective of time to ensure the right blend of lasting solutions. Kitchen cabinet doors were rebuilt in place using a custom distressed stainless steel panel, mahogany rails and new hardware. The custom blackened steel, LED fixture was designed to relate to the ceiling’s existing beam pattern. The interiors scope included custom window treatments, pillows, linens, rug and upholstery. On the lower level we renovated the bathroom with a door to the outside, where the sunken patio with new outdoor shower greets the family’s return from the beach; discreetly screened by a custom mahogany gate with louvers. Continual hand-troweled wall plaster runs from the outside in, enhancing the connection. A wall garden of stainless steel and felt is soon to be installed—made in BBA’s Cedar Alley workshop—as well as new planter boxes we designed to reference an original, unbuilt design by Brooks. Back to Projects page Client Confidential BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Seth Boor Size 2,500 SF Contractor Steve Munson Hagen Colbert, Inc. Collaborators Interiors GC: Nick Sandman Construction Photography Studio BBA Back to top

WAXMAN'S SAN FRANCISCO In conjunction with the renovation of Ghirardelli Square’s historic Mustard Building we were tasked with designing this 400-seat restaurant space, to be outfitted for the urban gourmet. The program featured an indoor-outdoor connection and open kitchen, with an overall purposeful, informal feel. In the studio, we tasked ourselves with reconnecting Ghirardelli to modern-day San Francisco in an authentic, relevant way. We all love the building’s original, rough beauty and favored elevating its aesthetic with respectful, subtle interventions. Two new glass storefront ‘porches’ were added on the north face—to extend the restaurant’s footprint and bring the vibrant, sophisticated bar scene into view, showcasing the original rustic brick as a backdrop. These porches open onto an adjacent plaza via a series of tall doors, under an existing deck, and were made to resemble similar vestibules added in a 1960’s renovation of Ghirardelli’s campus in keeping with historical preservation guidelines. The simple, elegant floor plan humanizes the enormity of the space by creating two dining rooms around a central kitchen, and tucking the back-of-house functions in an accessible but discreet area. The limited mix of neutral and local materials includes white oak floors stained to match the old factory floor, Heath tile, and beautiful walnut and cypress woods. Custom, utilitarian hardware was created to reference the landmark building’s history, setting and back-story. Back to Projects page Client Waxman's Restaurant BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Anand Sheth Size 8,600 SF Contractor Terra Nova Industries Collaborators Landscape Architect: HOK Fabricator: Kyle Minor Design Photography Mariko Reed Back to top

CHECKR HQ SF SAN FRANCISCO We created a humanized headquarters for this savvy young tech company, whose distinctive tastes and commitment to design values laid the foundation for an excellent project. Elegant, ordered architecture and interiors reflect the owners’ style and vision, and temper the orthogonal rigor of the building shell. Equitability, transparency and community are fundamental to Checkr and therefore to the design—the company’s core values and approach to services relies on these attributes, as does their friendly, smart, respectful company culture. With an entire financial district building under lease, the team implemented a strategic phased approach, gutting and redoing 4 floors totaling 70,000 SF over 3.5 years. We likened the 360-degree views to being in the treetops, and the idea that this perspective gives the staff a keen advantage as they work. An investment in custom acoustic ceiling panels replaced an odious drop ceiling, and the donut-shaped floor plan uses workstation pods to maintain openness while defining the space. Every floor has a destination break area and intentional programming to encourage Checkr’s teams to circulate freely and often between floors. The original lunch room is a multi-function space, serving “all hands on deck” meetings, as well as hosting outside mixers, events and ‘fireside chats’ while the final phase was being developed. Other amenities of the HQ include a yoga lounge, a library for quiet time (with real books and no cell phones), and phone booths for private conversation while ‘treetop’ viewing. We introduced a ‘jazz bar’ destination space—born out of our thinking about treetops and freedom, which led to birds, which, of course, led us to Charlie “Bird” Parker and jazz! Like a forest at night, the bar’s finishes, fixtures and furnishings are dark and moody, and include a service area with a hand-hammered aged brass island and coffee bar. The ping pong table was a top criteria for Checkr’s program, to enable the ace players on staff to keep up their game. In the final phase for Checkr’s SF HQ, we created a home for guests, staff and key public consisting of a Welcome Center and an “All The Hands” space. The Welcome Center uses tone-on-tone blue to provide an anchored entry sequence while expanding on “birds in the sky” by adding “clouds” as inspiration. The “All The Hands” space is hyper-flexible, divisible into three rooms for training, lounging and dining and expandable into a 300-person gathering space. Activity-Based Working (ABW) techniques were employed and integrated with a diverse set of experiences, space and places to provide a truly inclusive environment. As a nod to our hospitality work, we also considered the front of house as important as the back of house spaces, including a thoughtful kitchen prep space with a terrific view. Particular attention was also spent on the all-gender restroom, with custom accessories built locally by Hume Studio, reinforcing that everyone matters at Checkr. Also integral to the aesthetic, the art program throughout was developed as another expression of Checkr’s values and culture; featuring local artists to express their connection to the San Francisco Bay Area, and prison artists to underscore their commitment to authenticity. A portrait by TW FIVE was commissioned and made on site, sparking joy and daily reflection to passersby entering the lunchroom. Back to Projects page Client Checkr BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Ellen Yanisse Dave Ornvold Size 70,000 SF Contractor Principal Builders Inc. Collaborators Lighting: Hiram Banks Furniture: POD Office Photography Bruce Damonte Jasper Sanidad Back to top

TECH COMPANY SAN FRANCISCO When this client came to Studio BBA, they were new and growing — growing fast. Working with the co-founder, we established how their digital presence transcends into physical space and identity. The project grew into a 3-story redesign including new finishes to compliment a host of program: lounges, outdoor terraces, a gym, all-hands and dining area to accommodate catering for the entire office. Through our emergent process, we learned that focused and private work was pivotal to the company’s office culture and created the “Observable Universe” art piece to inspire a “Thinking Garden” as a place for introspection, study, discovery, and delight. The interior landscape program for the office became an obvious manifestation of the Thinking Garden, supported by an abstract and sophisticated nature-inspired palette. Starting during the Covid pandemic, the only thing that was certain was that the company was growing. Lead times quickly began to drive schedule, and the design team had to be nimble in making selections as available products quickly changed. This need to meet schedule fostered a trusting relationship where the Client approved look-and-feel of the various aspects of the office space, and Studio BBA was able to select alternates as needed. We standardized on a phone booth, providing fluidity for staff jumping from room to room, and to ease future purchasing needs. To support confidentiality and the meditative quietness of the open office, the floor plan boasts a nearly 3-to-1 ratio of people to conference rooms and call rooms. Back to Projects page Client Confidential Tech BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Vishnu Balusat Samantha Buckley Size 18,000 SF Contractor GCI General Contractors Collaborators Project Manager: Raise Plantings: AddLife Procurement: MGWest Photography Studio BBA Back to top

EQUATOR LARKSPUR LARKSPUR This Equator location is simple in intent—we designed a café that characterizes the balance of laid back and active lifestyles in Larkspur’s community. Modeled after a functional bike shop, the interior features industrial fixtures, practical storage shelves and a pegboard wall to hold tools of the trade. The café sits amidst Magnolia Avenue’s recently upgraded plazas, and is a major draw that has contributed to the area’s resurgence of activity. Magnolia is a charming and historic retail environment—walkable to downtown and accessible to the myriad outdoor activities for which the North Bay is known, including Marin County’s expansive web of bike trails. A huge, custom-made wood map of Marin—10’ high by 20’ long—includes topography and bike paths to help customers orient themselves and discover new adventure routes. Back to Projects page Client Equator Coffees BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Sarah Fucinaro Size 625 SF Contractor ACI Collaborators MEP: MHC Engineers Structural: Barringer Design Topo Sign: R.B. Morris III Photography Nicholas V. Ruiz Back to top

FLORA GRUBB GARDENS LA LOS ANGELES We had the opportunity to collaborate again with the dream team that is Flora Grubb Gardens on their new Marina Del Rey location. Their new location in Southern California is quickly becoming a gathering place for design-driven gardeners who are committed to the wiser use of resources. Studio BBA helped to create and iterate with Flora’s vision of another park-like nursery. We helped the Marina Del Rey location to embody Flora Grubb’s commitment to making lavishly beautiful landscapes that require minimal water and chemicals accessible to the public. It has been incredibly rewarding to watch the successes of Flora Grubb Gardens as they grow and we are grateful for our partnership, as they bring us along time and time again. Through our longtime relationship with Flora Grubb, we continue to collaborate frequently with the Gardens’ landscape services on other Studio BBA projects. Back to Projects page Client Flora Grubb Gardens BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Vishnu Balunsat Size 1,765 SF Contractor Flora Grubb Team Collaborators Flora Grubb Team Photography Caitlin Atkinson Back to top

NATIVE SF SAN FRANCISCO Studio BBA worked with the San Francisco based brand Native to experiment and trial new ways to organize their ever growing organization within their existing space. We provided schematic plans, elevations, and furniture proposals on how they can warm up their workspace while capturing the brand and team's ethos. Our first priority was a new layout that moved existing workstations towards the windows, and creating parity with consistent short rows of workstations. We created a warm complimentary palette inspired by their ever growing portfolio of scents to make it more comfortable and to organize the space—Native blue for quiet focus areas, warm hues for activated collaboration areas. Back to Projects page Client Native BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Samantha Buckley Michelle Cruz Size 6,500 SF Contractor Collaborators Photography Back to top

CHOCOLATE SHOP SAN FRANCISCO A Japanese chocolate company sought out BBA to design a flagship for their expansion to America’s West Coast. As their company focuses on carefully crafted, high-quality natural products, they came to us for our aligned values, retail design expertise and our experience creating successful food and drink destinations. We collaborated with the chocolatier’s international team to develop two concepts: retail only, and retail plus production. The latter embodies their ‘bean-to-bar’ philosophy—to house the entire chocolate-making process in-house—by integrating a state-of-the-art factory with a customer experience component for production viewing, alongside café, retail and workshop spaces. Our design approach blended Japanese precision with California humanism and warmth to create an environment that encourages customers to linger and learn about the artisanal chocolate-making process. Back to Projects page Client Confidential BBA Team Bonnie Bridges Megan McGuinn Size 2,500 SF Contractor Unbuilt Collaborators MEP: MHC Engineers Food Service Consultant: Christensen Consultants Structural: DCI Engineers Photography None Back to top