KTGY Celebrates Grand Opening of Multifamily Mixed-Use Development in South San Francisco
August 24, 2022
Nodding to the city’s industrial history, Nine88 is a communal hub nestled along Centennial Way Trail in South San Francisco
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO – Aug. 24, 2022 – KTGY, a leading full-service architecture, branding, interior, and planning firm focused on residential, retail, hospitality and mixed-use developments, today announced the grand opening of Nine88, a mixed-use, multifamily community developed by SummerHill Apartment Communities. Situated in the heart of South San Francisco, California, across from the brand-new Community Civic Campus and with its proximity to job centers, recreation, and the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station, Nine88 offers a lifestyle of comforts, convenience and wellness for its residents.
“With Nine88, KTGY was able to design a thoughtful building that lives up to the city’s grand vision for the transforming area while also leveraging our expertise and close city relationships to ensure the entire process was easy for all involved,” said Sara Fernandez, director of design, KTGY. “The result is a community that feels truly authentic to South San Francisco and which establishes a lasting legacy for the former landowners who were proud to transition their family business, the South City Car Wash, which was a fixture at this corner for generations.”
The six-story multifamily building includes five levels of residential and courtyard spaces above a pedestrian-scaled podium base that houses a mix of active uses while creatively concealing parking. The double-height ground floor is activated with retail spaces and amenities, enhancing the vibrancy of the communal complex at the corner of El Camino Real and the. Two courtyards, a fitness center, a wifi café with workstations, oversized spa, indoor clubroom for entertaining, and two secure bike rooms round out the slew of amenities. The building features 172 rental units ranging in size from studios to two-bedroom units. Overcoming the challenges of an irregularly-shaped parcel and navigating underground utilities and the adjacent BART tunnel, KTGY incorporated 247 underground parking spaces for both retail and resident usage into the design.
Resembling a historic commercial façade, Nine88 truly brings out the essence of South San Francisco. It infuses a contemporary take on traditional elements closely associated with the city’s industrial history, such as red brick and black steel. The building has a welcoming, elegant, pedestrian-friendly frontage along El Camino Real and Chestnut Avenue with a three-story brick façade anchored to the stepped-back floors beyond with exposed I-beam details. Smooth stucco pop-outs above are inspired by bay windows, a traditional element of South San Francisco architecture, and create an interesting rhythm for the front elevation. Nine88 also features balconies with expansive views towards the iconic Sign Hill as well as private patios enclosed in glass and brick offering respite along the busier street frontages. The 8,000-square-foot open space area with direct frontage onto Centennial Way Trail adds a new fitness park, dog park, and provides pedestrians and cyclists with safe connections from the Trail to the Community Civic Campus via new signalized crosswalks.
KTGY partnered with longstanding client SummerHill Apartment Communities and played an integral role in the planning phases. Working alongside the city of South San Francisco through every stage, the collaborative team ensured plans were approved within set deadlines, simplifying the entitlement process.
“It was a pleasure to work with KTGY, a longstanding partner of SummerHill Apartment Communities, on the development of Nine88,” said Doug McDonald, President of SummerHill Apartment Communities. “Not only was KTGY able to translate our vision, but they also helped ensure the process from planning to opening was an easy process.”
KTGY partnered with SummerHill Apartment Communities, Ryan Young Interiors (interior designer), April Philips Design Works (landscape architect), Carlson, Barbee & Gibson, Inc. (civil engineer), Giacalone Design Services, Inc. (utilities), Patel Burica & Associates, Inc. (structural engineer), Tuan and Robinson Structural Engineers, Inc. (shoring), Emerald City Engineers, Inc. (MEP engineer), SBI Builders, Inc (general contractor), Charles M. Salter Associates, Inc. (acoustical consultant) and Rockridge Geotechnical (geotechnical/hazmat consultant).
