Join ASLA-Northern California Chapter for a walking tour of San Francisco’s newest park – the Presidio Tunnel Tops – before it opens to the public. The $120 million project is the final step in the two decades long transformation of the Presidio’s northern waterfront. Walk with landscape architects from the Presidio Trust and James Corner Field Operations to learn what it took to transform bare tunnels over a freeway into 14-acres of new urban national park designed to welcome all.

Since 2001, Michael Boland has played a key role in transforming the historic Presidio into a world class national park site. As Chief Park Officer, he leads an interdisciplinary team that has created comprehensive visitor infrastructure, restored the Presidio’s mosaic of natural and cultural landscapes, established national park experiences serving urban youth and their families, and reinvented the post as a unique financially self-sufficient national park for all.

Boland has a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, a Master of Landscape Architecture degree, and a Master of City Planning degree, all from UC Berkeley, and is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects.”

Rania Rayes is a licensed landscape architect and has worked as a Senior Project Manager in the Park Design and Construction Department of the Presidio Trust of San Francisco since 2005. She managed the Presidio Tunnel Tops Project landscape design and is co-managing its construction. She has led the planning, design, and construction of various projects in the Presidio, including trails, overlooks, wetland restoration, and historic landscape rehabilitation. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the American University of Beirut and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley.

Richard is a Senior Principal at Field Operations, a leading-edge landscape architecture and urban design practice, and Director of the firm’s San Francisco office. With 20 years of professional experience, Richard is committed to improving cities through the design of a resilient, holistic and vibrant public realm. Richard led the design of the Presidio Tunnel Tops Project in San Francisco, the new 14-acre park that connects the Presidio to San Francisco’s Bayfront. Other signature projects include Cleveland’s Public Square; Memphis’ Shelby Farms Park; and London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Richard holds a Master of Landscape Architecture with distinction from Harvard University, and has taught graduate level design studios and lectured at universities, symposiums, foundations and institutions around the world.

Kerry Huang is a licensed landscape architect at Field Operations and is currently leading and managing the extensive multidisciplinary design team through the construction of Tunnel Tops. Her experience has been dedicated to public park projects, both locally in San Francisco and nationally. As both a designer and project manager, her focus is to ensure that projects are delivered true to their design intent, grounded in its site context and built to endure and age gracefully. She holds a Bachelor of Art in Chemistry from the University of Texas and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

The tour will be entirely within the still closed and fenced Tunnel Tops site. Only the tour leaders will be able to provide access, so joining the group late will not be possible. Please plan accordingly and allow for extra travel time.

We will be walking just under 2 miles. Please wear walking shoes and dress in layers.

Where: Meet at Presidio Visitor Center, 210 Lincoln Boulevard at 9:45 am so the tour can start promptly at 10?

Please use PresidiGo, downtown route. More information including a real-time map can be found here Presidio Shuttle | PresidioGo Free Shuttle Bus Schedules and Maps. The shuttle will stop at the Presidio Transit Center, which is right next to the Visitor Center. The Muni 30 also can deliver folks to Chrissy Field, which is a short walk to the Transit Center.

Please park in the Anza Lot at Lincoln Blvd and Graham Street.

CLICK HERE for a Google map to this location. CLICK HERE for a map.

Cost: ASLA members $20, non-members $30, students $15

Registration is limited.