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Commission approves option B for Veterans Building skylights; veterans to review mock-up
Summary
After technical presentations and public input, the commission approved replacing the Veterans Building's upper skylights with continuous metal roof panels (option B), a reversible solution recommended by several commissioners and the project team; the motion included inviting a veterans representative to review the mock-up.
The Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to approve "Option B" for the upper skylights on the Veterans Building roof: replace the existing, deteriorated skylights with a continuous sheet-metal roof panel that can be reversed in the future.
Planning staff (Rich Sucre) outlined three options: (A) new skylights with a curb detail projecting roughly a half-inch, (B) a continuous sheet-metal roof panel matching other rehabilitated roofing, and (C) a panel that would include a commemorative seam denoting the former skylight locations. Staff recommended option C for visual continuity and reversibility but noted waterproofing challenges for a truly flush skylight in the building's very low slope and shallow-profile conditions.
Tara Lamont, the city's project manager for the Veterans Building seismic upgrade, explained engineering and waterproofing constraints uncovered in the shop-drawing stage and said that the San Francisco Opera will invest $18,000,000 in spaces below the skylights, creating specific programmatic and lighting needs. Preservation architect Nancy Goldenberg and the project team argued that watertight skylights on the upper roof would require a curb and a more prominent profile that would not match the building's historic, flush character; they also noted the change would be reversible.
Public commenters included Jerome Shapiro (San Francisco Post/American Legion) and Paul Cox, vice chair of the War Memorial Commission American Legion Committee, who urged a practical, durable solution and expressed support for option B. Cox said the flush skylight detail has been nearly impossible to replicate with certainty and called option B "a way to eliminate a series of problems," including longstanding leakage and heat gain.
During deliberations commissioners balanced authenticity, durability and reversibility; several favored option B as the cleanest, most practical approach that preserves the building's overall appearance and reduces future maintenance risk. A motion to approve option B was amended to invite a member of the veterans team to review the required mock-up; that amended motion passed 7-0.
Next steps: The project sponsor will prepare a mock-up of the chosen detail for preservation staff review; staff will notify the veterans team and the American Legion representatives as requested. The mock-up and shop drawings will be used to finalize permit conditions and building-permit submittals.
