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SF Symphony, architect lay out major vision to remake Davies Hall entrance, add recital hall and public park
Summary
In an informational presentation, the San Francisco Symphony and its architect outlined plans to open Davies Symphony Hall to the street, add a 400‑seat recital hall, new public lobbies, terraces and a performance park; the commission offered supportive feedback but took no action.
The San Francisco Symphony and its architect presented a concept plan Aug. 21 to substantially rehabilitate Davies Symphony Hall, proposing to transform otherwise opaque ground‑floor facades into publicly accessible lobbies and to add a 400‑seat recital hall and a performance park where a surface parking lot now sits.
Michelle Taylor of the Planning Department framed the item as an informational review for conformity with Article 10 of the Planning Code and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards; she noted Davies is treated as a noncontributor to the Civic Center Historic District but that the commission's review would consider compatibility with the district’s character and the Secretary of the Interior standards.
Matthew Spivey, CEO of the San Francisco Symphony, said the project seeks to make the building more "flexible, open, and welcoming" and to expand street‑level public spaces for performances and community programming. Architect Mark Cabanero presented concept diagrams showing a new corner entry oriented toward City Hall, expanded lobbies with daylight monitors focusing views on City Hall's dome, masonry piers along Van Ness to frame views, a smaller transparent performance space on Hayes & Van Ness, backstage and musician support upgrades, and a plan to replace the Franklin & Grove surface lot with a public performance park.
Cabanero described material choices intended to reference the Civic Center palette while differentiating the building from nearby historic facades. He said the design attempts to "turn the building inside out" to animate Grove Street and create a venue that hosts daytime rehearsals and evening performances, with more public engagement and education opportunities.
Commissioners responded positively, praising the design’s intention to open the building to the public, and asked staff to clarify review pathways — notably how later project stages would be reviewed under the certificate of appropriateness process versus CEQA. Staff confirmed the modern/postmodern historic context statement adopted earlier that day will be used as a guiding document for future analysis. No action was taken; the presentation will inform subsequent environmental and permitting steps.
