About AIASF

Serving the Bay Area for over a century, the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco (AIASF) has a mission committed to enhancing the quality of life in the Bay Area by promoting excellence in architecture, design, and the built environment. AIASF represents members practicing architecture, as well as allied community professionals in San Francisco and Marin counties. 

Headquartered on the ground floor the historic Hallidie Building—America's first glass-curtain-wall building, designed by Willis Polk and completed in 1917—AIA San Francisco is the Bay Area’s leading destination for architecture and design. 

Each month, AIASF and the Center for A+D offer professional development and networking opportunities as well as public forums, tours, lectures, and gallery exhibitions that provide architects and design enthusiasts with many opportunities to explore the local built environment. Our annual Architecture and the City festival celebrates the richness and diversity of our local design community with programs throughout the city every September. In addition, our San Francisco Living: Home Tours series offers participants an inside look at cutting-edge residential architecture. 

One of the largest of 200+ AIA chapters, AIASF is a resource for architect and allied community professionals, as well as the general public. 

Read the AIASF Bylaws here

Hallidie Renovation 

In December 2010, Owners Edward J. Conner and Herbert P. McLaughlin asked The Albert Group to assemble and manage a team of experienced professionals to assess the water damage to the curtain wall and determine how to restore it to its former glory. Because of its skill in forensic architecture and waterproofing, McGinnis Chen Associates was selected as the architect of record with Page & Turnbull serving as the preservation architect and guide through the lengthy City approval process. Subsequently, the team was expanded to include a materials scientist, sculptor, testing agency, two structural engineers, a curtain wall consultant, Cannon Constructors as general contractor and a variety of specialty subcontractors. 

With the enthusiastic approval of the Planning Department and the Historic Preservation Commission, the team removed and replaced the structural steel at each of the three balconies and twelve fire escapes. The windows in each of these areas (350 total) were removed, repaired (or replaced in kind), painted and reinstalled. The decorative sheet metal was repaired, strengthened and reinstalled at the balconies and roof cornice. And, without noticeably altering the appearance of the curtain wall from the sidewalk, additional structural supports were added to the mullions, flashing was installed and spalling concrete was removed and replaced. 

After a two-year restoration of the glass wall and decorative balconies and cornices, the scaffolding that covered the Hallidie Building was removed in early May 2013.