PRESIDIO OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.—The Presidio Trust has completed the renovation of the first overnight accommodations in the Presidio of San Francisco—Inn at The Presidio—the only hotel to open in San Francisco in 2012. Inn at The Presidio, a member of Historic Hotels of America, occupies Pershing Hall, which was built in 1903 as bachelor officers’ quarters. The Inn, which is vying for LEED Gold, will be the Trust’s seventeenth project designed to LEED standards. The Trust engaged Architectural Resources Group, Inc. and BraytonHughes Design Studios for the project. Through their combined efforts (along with Waterford Hotels and Inns Inc., a hospitality management company), the property was painstakingly restored to preserve the historical integrity of the space, while updating it with all of the modern comforts and amenities befitting a world class inn.
The Presidio is the largest historic preservation effort underway in the country and the Trust’s LEED-certified historic preservation projects are some of the first in San Francisco. Landscaping for the Inn at The Presidio includes a storm water collection pond and treatment bay to assist in restoring the Presidio’s Tennessee Hollow Watershed.
“The Inn is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Trust’s commitment to both historic preservation and green building design,” said Josh Bagley, The Presidio Trust project manager. “After all, the ‘greenest’ building is one that already exists and is given another 50 years of life.”
Green Materials Used Throughout
Environmentally-friendly materials and repurposed elements have been used throughout the Inn to the extent possible, including low volatile organic compounds (VOC) paint, Greenlabel LEED nylon carpets, 100 percent U.S.A.-made wool area rugs in the public areas, and insulation made from recycled cotton denim.
“Our Inn follows the American Hotel & Lodging Association Green Housekeeping standards, as well as abides San Francisco’s stringent Green Chemical list,” says Terry Haney, the Inn’s General Manager. “As Waterford Hotels & Inns is an industry-leader in sustainable hospitality with two LEED Gold properties, ethical and sustainable operations and green management will come naturally to the Inn at the Presidio.”
Stately Pershing Hall was among the first Georgian Revival buildings in the Presidio. The red-brick building with stone trim is distinguished by a classically-detailed, two-story porch with wooden Tuscan columns. The building’s cruciform plan—with two wings, a slightly projecting central pavilion facing Moraga Avenue, and a central wing to the rear—has been preserved.
All of the historic two-room suites were retained, for a total of 17 suites and five guestrooms. The original mess hall and officer’s lounge, both of which had been subdivided during later remodels, have been returned to their original configurations and uses. The interior design pays homage to the Presidio’s history and showcases the many experiences available throughout the park. A special historical collection of images and artwork from the Presidio archives is available for all Presidio visitors to enjoy in the Inn’s common areas.
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