Potrero Power Plant Innovation Space

Completed, 2013

The innovation arm of NRG Energy “Station A” worked to disrupt the traditional energy market through local, distributed energy generation. For this Station A group, we designed an innovation space on the site of a decommissioned power plant in San Francisco, a brownfield site with a long history of industrial use. We worked collaboratively with the Power Plant’s electrical engineer who had been there for decades to bring the place back to life and developed a team to demonstrate the relationship of small-scale energy generation with architecture.  Working closely with Centric Construction, we rehabilitated the old structure to become a 100% daylit space (including a mirrored pipe to bring daylight to the conference room), had first-generation phase change glass technology, and used tiles made from recycled solar glass tubes.  The whole building was clad in a blanket of extra thick insulation that we played with to give it a “quilted” fabric look.  

Following the completion of the Station A space, we continued to collaborate with the Station A group to create a prototype net zero energy and water systems. 

“ The studio delivered a beautiful and cool office that was a perfect fit for the new gang.” – Robyn Beavers, former SVP of Innovation, NRG Energy

Size: 5,000sf / 5 -50 users; Our Role: Architect