Organized Labor

Several renovation projects near Union Square have recently been completed or are near completion. They include work on the historic landmark tower at 450 Sutter Street, renovation of the Metropolitan Club on Sutter and the former Hotel 480 at 480 Sutter Street.

Organized Labor visited some of the projects with Carpenters Local 22 Business Agent Gilbert De Anda. At 450 Sutter, work is nearing completion after about three years. The 26-story building was completed in 1929 in an art deco style and features a decorative terra cotta tile skin with Mayan themed carvings and some unique window bays. It was designated a City of San Francisco historic landmark in 1985. The building is home to about 200 tenants—mostly dentists and doctors. The work was done in phases to ensure that tenants were able to keep doing business during the renovations.

450 Sutter

Marchetti Construction’s Senior Vice President of Construction, Dewey Melton, said the project was on schedule to be completed this fall. Foreman Paul Roman, a 15-year member of the Carpenters Union, showed off some of the offices that had been completed and where the finishing touches were being done. Crews of laborers and carpenters are employed by Marchetti; with glaziers, plasterers and painters from Plasterers Local 66, Glaziers Local 718 and other locals working for various subcontractors, including Jepoliti Plasterers. Between 25 and 30 building trades workers were on the job.

The building has 268,587 square feet of rentable space. Since the building is fully occupied, equipment like dentist chairs must be moved and counters, walls and sinks covered to keep them dust-free during removal of windows and replastering of walls. Craft members explained that each floor was unique and many of the offices had their own customized features. All of the building’s 2,800 windowsills were being replaced. Many were painted shut or slightly rusted.

The window bays feature two glass panes that project slightly outward, with a rounded metal mullion in between. Roman pointed out that the windows were all of different sizes and because of their design, many had sustained water damage to the mullions over the years. Those with marble windowsills were given new marble sills.

Marchetti also installed a unique set of swing stage scaffolds anchored on the building’s rooftop, used by workers who must clean or replace the exterior tiles. Many of the tiles need to be replaced and all need to be re-mortared and waterproofed. The replacement tiles have to match the original ones because the building is a registered as an historical city landmark. The scaffold system was installed and is maintained by Elevator LLC. Operators of the scaffolding are certified and receive specialized training.

Metropolitan Club

Down the street at 640 Sutter, the interior of the Metropolitan Club is also receiving a makeover. Formerly known as the Woman’s Athletic Club of San Francisco, the Metropolitan Club is a six-story Italian Renaissance Style building completed in 1923. The Club’s website notes that, “During the 1920s the Woman’s Athletic Club of San Francisco flourished, with active basketball, swimming and tennis teams. Plans were drawn up for an expanded building, which the San Francisco Examiner called ‘the largest club of its kind in America.’”

Renovation of the Metropolitan Club includes work on ceilings and doors, demo of some existing walls, replacement of lockers and new bathrooms. Turner Construction is the General Contractor with subcontractors San Francisco Millwork for cabinet work and moldings and Frederick Meiswinkel, Incorporated (FMI) doing the lath, plaster and drywall. Each company has years of experience in hotel and residential projects and historical renovations.

On a visit to the job site, job foreman Ray Lopez of Carpenters Local 152 in Martinez showed off some of the finished work on cabinets in some of the dressing rooms, lockers and molding done by SF Millwork. Lopez said there were just five or so carpenters on the job as it neared completion, along with members of Painters and Tapers Local 913, Plasterers, and Laborers.

Hotel 480, Stanford Court

Howard S. Wright Constructors is the General Contractor for two hotel renovations, the former Hotel 480 at 480 Sutter Street, and the Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel near California and Powell Streets. The contractor is also finishing the construction of a new parking structure with ground floor retail space for UC Hastings Law School near the Civic Center.

HS Wright Project Manager Chris Palermo said the Hotel 480 was receiving a complete interior renovation of all 30 stories. The scope includes the renovation of meeting rooms and ballrooms on the second and 30th floors. About 16 union carpenters were on the job in early June, as well as members of the laborers, millmen and other trades.

Subcontractors for the 303,500-square-feet, $20 million project include J & J Acoustics for the ceiling tile replacement, Pacific Door, and Mission Bell Manufacturing for the trim work. Mission Bell is based in Morgan Hill and specializes in quality architectural woodwork, millwork and custom casework.

They employ union carpenters and millmen from throughout the Bay Area and are affiliated with Carpenters Local 405 and Millmen Local 262 in San Jose. J & J Acoustics is a metal stud framing and drywall contractor, also doing lath & plaster, exterior insulation systems and spray-on fireproofing.

They are a union shop affiliated with the Northern California Carpenter’s and the Bay Area Painters and Allied Trades.

The Hotel 480 was formerly the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and will now be operated by Marriott International.

A top to bottom renovation of the Stanford Court Renaissance Hotel, located near California and Powell Streets, was completed last year. The $32 million renovation included a complete facelift of the hotel, including all 393 guestrooms and 22 suites in the eight-story building, upgrading of the lobby and front desk, and a new restaurant. The 258,450-square-feet project also includes six meeting spaces, a fitness center, and other spaces.

The architect for the project was Brennan Beer Gorman. Marriott International operates the hotel.

A recent news story on the commercial real estate news site cityfeet.com reported that JER Partners, which purchased the property for $93 million in January 2007, has defaulted on its $89 million loan from Barclays Capital, leading to appointment of a receiver to oversee the hotel.