Case Study | November 25, 2024 San Francisco City Loop Restoration

The San Francisco City Loop restoration project faced several significant challenges:

Strict Timeline: The entire project had to be completed within a constrained timeframe of seven months to minimize disruption to city operations and ensure timely delivery of benefits.

Transition of Infrastructure: The project required the upgrade of a 100+ year-old piping system to meet modern Cordia standards.

Proximity to City Hall: The work was conducted near one of San Francisco’s busiest and most high-profile areas, encompassing City Hall, UN Plaza, and adjacent venues. The location posed logistical difficulties due to regular events, traffic, closures, and spontaneous activities such as protests and demonstrations.

The project team implemented a strategic and collaborative approach to overcome these challenges:

Stakeholder Coordination: Close collaboration with key city agencies, including the San Francisco Department of Public Works (SFDPW), San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), and San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), ensured that the project was executed with minimal disruption to city functions. Detailed planning accommodated scheduled events and prepared for unanticipated occurrences.

Modernization of Piping: All piping in the City Loop was upgraded to comply with current Cordia standards, ensuring durability, efficiency, and long-term reliability.

The project was successfully completed on schedule, achieving the following outcomes:

Infrastructure Restoration: In partnership with the City of San Francisco, the old and failing piping system surrounding City Hall and UN Plaza was restored, re-establishing a fully functional loop.

Enhanced Service: The upgraded loop now provides a reliable and sustainable source of heating and hot water to key civic buildings, including City Hall, the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the Federal Courthouse, and the San Francisco Public Library.

This collective effort not only modernized critical infrastructure but also demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated action between public agencies and project teams to meet urban challenges under tight constraints.