The Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans, is a 45,000 SF community landmark in San Francisco’s Bayview–Hunters Point neighborhood. The Center provides a vibrant, sustainable space for residents to gather, learn, and connect. The three-story, LEED® Gold-certified main building includes a childcare center, multi-purpose rooms, conference spaces, and a café, linked by a landscaped breezeway to the standalone Alex Pitcher Room, an event space equipped with a commercial kitchen, amphitheater, and audiovisual infrastructure.

Developed through years of community engagement, the project embodies inclusion, art, and sustainability. It features $1 million in locally commissioned public art and exceeded local worker goals, reinforcing its role as both a neighborhood anchor and an employment engine. Outdoor amenities—such as a performance lawn, play zones, gardens, and outdoor dining areas—extend the Center’s reach, transforming the site into an active cultural campus.

Pankow’s collaborative approach, Lean planning, and commitment to the community led to the project’s multiple honors, including the 2023 IPI Partnered Project of the Year, AIA California Design Award, and San Francisco Collaborative Partnering Award. The Center now stands as a civic model of partnership, environmental responsibility, and place-based design.

Building a Place for Belonging

The Southeast Community Center stands as a cornerstone for the Bayview–Hunters Point neighborhood, a place designed by and for the community it serves. Pankow worked closely with San Francisco Public Works, the SFPUC, and local residents to translate years of community visioning into a facility that reflects cultural pride, environmental stewardship, and social connectivity.

The project consists of two interconnected buildings: a three-story, 45,000 SF main facility that houses a lobby, café, childcare center, and flexible multi-purpose rooms; and the standalone Alex Pitcher Room, which serves as the Center’s main event venue with an amphitheater, commercial kitchen, and state-of-the-art audiovisual systems. Between the two buildings, a canopied breezeway and landscaped open spaces create a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor gathering areas.

Beyond architecture, the Center’s success was built on partnership. Through more than 150 outreach sessions, Pankow and the project team collaborated with residents, business owners, and local artists to ensure the design celebrated community history and empowered future generations. The completed facility achieved LEED® Gold certification and exceeded local hire and small business participation goals, serving as a model of inclusive, sustainable civic development.

Outdoor amenities, including an amphitheater, sports lawn, play areas, gardens, and shaded dining spaces, extend the Center’s mission beyond its walls, creating a truly accessible and welcoming environment. Today, the Southeast Community Center at 1550 Evans stands as a testament to the strength of collaboration and the transformative power of design rooted in community values .