Dezeen Magazine

Children playing on a football field with a cathedral in the background

Charles F. Bloszies inserts glass addition into San Francisco cathedral complex

Local studio Office of Charles F. Bloszies has completed an extension and renovation of the Cathedral School for Boys in San Francisco.

The two-storey addition is part of the Cathedral Close, an entire city block in Nob Hill that includes the Grace Cathedral.

Completed in 2022 while the school was in use, the project includes a 4,000-square-foot (370-square metre) narrow addition and reworked 8,000 square feet (743-square metres) of academic classrooms.

Exterior a cathedral and school with glass extension by Charles F Bloszies
The studio added a metal and glass extension to the school

The extension included the "careful inssertaion" of a modern, glass-lined structure between the cathedral and the school.

The addition is "a contemporary metal and glass structure that fits comfortably among the venerated landmark buildings it connects, capturing previously unavailable views of the cathedral and the city beyond" said the Office of Charles F. Bloszies.

The original ornate Gothic-style cathedral was completed in 1964; constructed a couple of years later, the restrained, concrete Cathedral School for Boys sits adjacent to the building's apse.

Exterior of a two-storey glazed school extension by Charles F Bloszies
A pale green metal was chosen for the extension

The addition utilises a 2009 outdoor terrace structure as the foundation – and serves as the new focal point, opening views from the school's entrance to the cathedral's stained glass windows.

The glazed addition – which includes a Co-Teach space on the upper level and a Learning Commons on the lower level, providing collaborative learning space for the K-8 students – is characterised by an aluminium curtain wall.

"The unitized curtain wall forming the exterior is rare for a small building, but this approach allowed it to be erected in under two weeks," the team said.

"The metal color — pale green rather than the typical architect’s defaults of white or black — is also unusual, and was carefully chosen to complement the patina of the surrounding weathered concrete buildings."

Interior working space with glazed walls overlooking a catherdral
The extension sits between the school and the cathedral

On the interior, the exposed structure gives way to white walls illuminated by natural light and acoustical perforated metal panels that provide both sound absorption and act as a display space for student art.

A wide corridor connects the addition to the rest of the school.

For the restoration, the team revamped large portions of the school building's, extending the programme of the addition's interior throughout.

Interior of a wide school hallway with a window overlooking the roofline of a cathedral
The interior was finished with white walls and acoustic panels

Founded in 1985, the Office of Charles F. Bloszies is a studio located along the San Francisco Embarcadero that specialises in urban infill design.

In a similar light and heavy juxtaposition, PDP London dropped a glazed extension into an office block in London, which also features pale green metalwork.

The photography is by Matthew Millman, courtesy The Office of Charles F. Bloszies, FAIA.


Project credits:

Architect: The Office of Charles F. Bloszies, FAIA
Structural engineer: Murphy, Burr, Curry, Inc.
Mechanical engineer: List Engineering
Electrical engineer: O’Mahoney+Myer
Plumbing engineer: List Engineering

More images

Terrace floor plan of a school extension and renovation by Charles F Bloszies
Entrance level floor plan of a school extension and renovation by Charles F Bloszies
Roof level floor plan of a school extension and renovation by Charles F Bloszies
Section drawing of a school extension and renovation by Charles F Bloszies
Three elevation drawings of a school extension and renovation by Charles F Bloszies
Exterior staircase adjoining the school extension by Charles F Bloszies
Interior school study space in individual desks and overhead lighting by Charles F Bloszies
Exterior of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco