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Public Works backs progressive design‑build for AAACC and MCCLA seismic upgrades, staff to refine relocation plans
Summary
The commission unanimously awarded a progressive design‑build contract to the recommended proposer for seismic improvements at the African American Arts & Cultural Complex and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, with program validation and tenant relocation funding to be worked out during design.
The San Francisco Public Works Commission on March 27 approved a progressive design‑build contract to advance seismic upgrades and select renovations at two community cultural centers: the African American Arts & Cultural Complex (AAACC) in the Fillmore and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts (MCCLA) in the Mission.
Project and procurement: Jamoke Akin Taylor, project manager for Public Works, told commissioners that the two projects were combined under a single solicitation for efficiency and that progressive design‑build was chosen to allow a program‑validation phase before finalizing scope. The staff presentation said the procurement followed San Francisco Administrative Code Sec. 6.61, with RFQ/P advertising in August 2024, four proposals received, oral interviews in January 2025, and technical and cost evaluation steps leading to the recommended proposer. The presenter read the contract amount aloud during the meeting (recorded in the transcript with ambiguous phrasing); staff described the total as approximately $35 million for both projects and recommended award to the top‑ranked firm.
Scope and community impacts: Staff described the AAACC scope as selective seismic upgrades, roof and window repairs, and code and ADA improvements; for MCCLA the work emphasizes structural strengthening, mechanical upgrades and lobby/entry improvements. Taylor said the AAACC scope aims to move the building toward a lower seismic hazard rating and that MCCLA has base and option scopes depending on available funding. ‘‘We are asking for approval to award this progressive design build contract…to Charles Panco Builders,’’ Taylor said during the presentation. Lisa Zayas Chen of the SF Arts Commission said limited relocation funds have been identified through capital planning and that additional supports are being coordinated with the mayor’s and supervisor’s offices to help the tenant organizations during construction.
Commission questions and action: Commissioners pressed staff about traffic and neighborhood impacts, mitigation strategies and how tenant programs will be sustained during an 18–24 month construction window. Staff said those mitigation measures and relocation plans will be refined during the program validation phase with the progressive design‑build team. The commission moved, seconded and voted unanimously to award the contract; staff said the resolution and contract documents will be posted to the commission website and that they will return with project updates.
What remains open: The precise final contract value and detailed tenant relocation plans will be defined during program validation; staff committed to returning to the commission with mitigation approaches once scope is further developed.
