UNION EXCHANGE
- AN HBCU HUB


Summer 2024 | Gensler
Final Project







Retail is changing all across the United States, and the iconic Macy’s in San Francisco’s Union Square is no exception to that rule. After Macy’s announced the end of it’s tenancy in January of 2018, many began to wonder: what will become of that space?

Historically, Union Square was zoned nearly 100% retail, attracting people near and far for its luxury stores. Known for its heavy tourist population and infrastructure, Union Square accounted for a large portion of the city’s revenue, but after the pandemic and increase in crime/theft, the plaza has become increasingly vacant and unengaged. However, in 2023, The SF Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to rezone Union Square towards mixed-use in hope to revitalize the area, supporting office, service, design, retail, entertainment, and residential uses. 

With Macy’s vacating it’s 250,000-square-foot property, the opportunity to leverage this new zoning legislation has risen, and many eyes lay on its development. Gensler SF tasked its intern cohort with taking a stab at what this redevelopment might look like, presenting it to Union Square Alliance, SPUR, mayoral candidates, and the city’s Planning Department at the end of the internship.




San Francisco is a place where strangers become neighbors, where differences are celebrated, and where the spirit of collaboration fuels progress. Community permeates throughout each neighborhood, but the singularity of Union Square doesn't foster that gathering of community, especially post-pandemic. Our definition of "dynamic" has shifted since, and Macy's presents an opportunity to realize that redefinition through creating an everyday hub, a home for everyone.

While doing this, we also want to stay true to what SF is:  a cultural and innovation powerhouse. To do so, we need to reinstate this diversity of people and minds and support them with amenities and infrastructure. Together, these goals realize an opportunity for a campus - more specifically, an HBCU Univerity Hub. This will leverage the diversity of living that a campus hub cultivates while inviting new aspects of living around residential and recreation. 


Definitions of “dynamic” spaces has changed post-pandemic
Our definition of dynamic focuses on the “everyday”
Everyday must include everyone, and the decreasing black population is a loss for the city
The core of our everyday dynamic space will be supported by an HBCU university hub
The west coast has 1 HBCU
SF has an opportunity to connect its prodominantly black neighborhoods to this network
Mayor London Breed as been backing this effort as a way to revitalize the city
Legislation exists to support this connection to HBCU resources
Adding an HBCU diversifies the educational options for locals while recruiting national talent
SF has a strong network of higher education
Our goal is redefine the existing landscape of Union Square
by leverage the diversity of living that a campus hub cultivates
We've analyzed the area within a 15 min walk to assess programs needed to diversify the area
 Our approach focuses on cultivating a flexible environment that adapts to various experiences.
A people-centered space is ultimately realized through how we bring the elements together  
these are our inspirations! please go to s
site context
mapping opportunity value
placing student housing away from high visibility
wrapping residential with campus space
wrapping campus with public space
highlighing shared footprint between campus and public
circulation defines residential, student, shared, and retail. alley condition engages the street
Shared programs are the bridge between the general public and the universities
Ramp connects the circulation cores, adding a new character to Union Square
Ramp capitalizes on ongoing success of rooftop experience of Macy‘s Cheesecake Factory

Standing on the plaza of Union Square, a visitor sees this view:
the activity of a dynamic gathering space embodied in the building. They see a wholistic vision of an everyday hub for community 
– a gathering of food infrastructure, retail, recreational space, speaking events, galleries, and innovation in classrooms. 
This space is a nexus of interactions between strangers and neighbors.  
In-state and out-of-state talent can find housing in Union Square, a space to cultivate their drive for progress and innovation, and infrastructure to support their stay
The alley invites neighbors and visitors of union square to also utilize that infrastructure on the ground floor, 
supported by transportation to Union Square through interventions on the road that prioritize public transit, cyclists, and pedestrian safety

An every-day worker near Union Square can come to the market for their grab'n'go lunches or stop by the grocery store after work for dinner ingredients
Study groups can meet up at the library to study for their finals after lunch and
Event vendors can use the alley for pop-ups with seating in the center court  
On the upper residential floors, student find the spaces they need to live and innovate close to them.  
Students can experience community with their neighbors...
comfort and collaboration in the student center...
and gallery space to showcase their work, to host events, and share their innovations with the larger public – visitors and neighbors combined.
The roof is also an experience visible from the plaza. The restaurants above can capitalize on the rooftop view of union square, and student clubs can host events in the patio space.
The roofscape draws people in from the plaza, through the alley, and up the building, inviting them to engage with building wholistically – as new dynamic character in the landscape of union square.



Outside of the internship, I worked with a project team on a small-scale, repositioning project in Palo Alto with interior and architecture scopes:


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