The 26,000 SF, 200-bed Bayview SAFE Navigation Center serves as a vital community resource providing housing, showers, restrooms, counseling, and shared spaces for residents experiencing homelessness. The design centers around an open-air courtyard that promotes safety and connection.

Built under Mayor London Breed’s “1,000 Beds” initiative, the project was delivered through Design-Build and Design-Assist collaboration between Pankow Builders, San Francisco Public Works, and the Office of Charles Bloszies. Innovative construction included a pre-engineered metal building system, BIM coordination, robotic drywall finishing, and comprehensive underground utility scanning.

Despite the challenges of building during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team achieved zero safety incidents, maintained schedule certainty, and delivered a facility that is both durable and human-centered.

Partnering for People

The Bayview SAFE Navigation Center was born out of an urgent citywide effort to combat homelessness. Located on a one-acre Caltrans parcel, the 26,000 SF pre-engineered facility provides shelter and wraparound services to more than 200 individuals, including areas for couples, pets, and personal belongings.

Delivered under a Design-Build model, Pankow and the Office of Charles Bloszies collaborated with San Francisco Public Works to overcome complex challenges, from permitting and utilities to pandemic restrictions, through structured collaborative partnering. The team used a partnering charter to align goals, resolve issues, and maintain open communication. This culture of teamwork allowed the project to finish on time, within budget, and without a single lost-time injury or legal claim.

The project also served as a proving ground for construction innovation. Pankow employed robotic layout and drywall finishing tools, integrated BIM and drone mapping for subsurface utility exploration, and implemented a digital orientation system to ensure worker safety during COVID-19.

Recognized with the 2022 IPI Partnered Project of the Year Award, the Bayview SAFE Navigation Center exemplifies what’s possible when design-build collaboration, technology, and compassion come together to address one of California’s most pressing social needs.