Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center

San Francisco, CA

Interior Remodel

The Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center (TARC) was the first facility of its kind in San Francisco: a storefront offering free counseling, HIV-testing and information on HIV-AIDS to anyone who walks in off the street. A non-profit, TARC was founded by Tenderloin community activists who remain committed to the idea that education and outreach are key factors in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS. TARC is remodeling its facility to provide outreach and service to the vulnerable groups who constitute the large majority of San Franciscans with the diagnosis—experience high rates of depression, loneliness, physical pain, and financial difficulties.

In this project, focusing on renovation, armed with a relatively generous construction budget, TARC has decided to “gut” the original design and completely remodel.

The new design must address several issues that have evolved over the years, some a result of TARC’s success and growth, and others the result of overly optimistic assumptions made by the client and designers in the original design. Here is a summary of those issues.

Security:

The design team was very committed to the open quality if the original design, both as an aesthetic statement and as a symbolic welcome to visitors. However, the reality is that TARC needs to protect its staff and visitors from unruly people who walk in from time to time. TARC has determined that the new design must include a security checkpoint - a means of monitoring visitors before allowing them access to the spaces beyond the waiting room.

Lighting:

The skylights provide an abundance of natural light, while general lighting is inadequate at night. TARC wishes to reconsider the lighting design, both daylighting and artificial lighting. The goals are (1) to take advantage of the natural light (while introducing means of modulating it, and (2) to provide energy-efficient artificial general and task lighting. *The scheme should include proposals to modify and regulate the amount of natural light that comes through the two skylights.

Outreach Program:

The Outreach Program, a small but important part of TARC’s activities, has grown and expanded its mission. Originally focused on reaching at-risk groups including intravenous drug users and sex workers, Outreach now helps homeless people with HIV who have let their treatment lapse, and older people with HIV who suffer from isolation and various HIV-related ailments. TARC needs an expanded number of workstations serving the outreach staff.

Mezzanine/Community Room:

In the original design, the mezzanine was left open to serve as an all-purpose room, accommodating staff meetings, community group meetings,
and Executive Board meetings. TARC has leased a space in a nearby building to house these larger meetings, and can develop the mezzanine for other uses.