An Experience in Preserving the Past and Future

“We hope the museum will give to the visiting public an experience that they will hold onto emotionally . . . something to grasp onto and leave with, learn from, be inspired by, and have a sense of accomplishment and inspiration as they walk out the doors,” says Walter Elias Disney Miller, President of the Disney Family Foundation and grandson of the American icon.

And that’s precisely what the design team has set out to do. Its mission is to present the life and career of Walt Disney in an honest and entertaining manner, with a museum that will fulfill the needs of serious scholars of the man, his work, and his times. Located in San Francisco’s historic Presidio, the museum will be housed in three former barracks. We designed the concrete and steel seismic strengthening scheme for these brick buildings so that it does not alter the historic facade.

Strengthening measures included interior shotcrete walls and new floor diaphragm connections. Modernization required creating brand new spaces within the existing building foot print like a subbasement for HVAC and support equipment and a basement auditorium. Other key features are an interior ramp suitable for ADA requirements and a glass facade for a courtyard.

Building 104 will house a museum and multimedia tour depicting Walt Disney’s life, including a small cafe, gift shop, ancillary office, and 115-seat lecture hall. A new two-level structure of approximately 16,000 square feet will infill the existing courtyard on the west side of Building 104.

Building 122 will be rehabilitated to house the Foundation’s research, archiving, and education functions and to provide gallery space for visiting exhibits. Building 108, an electric shop built in 1940, will house much of the mechanical equipment to support the other facilities.

But even more important is the idea of preserving a historic structure, putting something wonderful inside, and giving it new life. The Museum will continue the legacy of Walt Disney, sharing not only the truth of his life but also his passion for art, creativity, and innovation. In that spirit, it is hoped that the museum also will become a place for future thinking about the ideas and philosophies that infused his life.