ka's Largest Project in 45 Years is Topped Off

Cleveland, OH (June 13, 2005) During a topping-off ceremony earlier this month, the final steel beam was raised into place at the new Westfield San Francisco Centre. This marks the beginning of the final phase of construction for the project that will house over one million square feet of new shops, restaurants, and entertainment, including a new, five-story Bloomingdale's store, second only in size to New York's flagship store.

As the executive architect for the entire $410 million development, Cleveland-based ka architecture acknowledges this as their largest project in 45 years.

The project incorporates two major elements of the historic Emporium department store, which was built in 1896, survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, and sat vacant for two decades. The store's distinctive façade is being restored and strengthened, and its famous, 102 foot-diameter glass and steel dome and rotunda has been raised three stories to accommodate the development. Additionally, rooftop terraces and lower level access to public transportation, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) System, contribute to the detail and convenience of this project.

"Since 1996, we have been working on this project and are very excited to see it enter its final phase of construction," says James Heller, president of ka. "This is a true testament to the teamwork and dedication of all those involved including our firm, other design team members, and the developer and owner, Forest City Enterprises and Westfield America, respectively," he adds. Due to be completed in the fall of 2006, the development is expected to attract 25 million visitors a year and generate $500 million in annual sales, a big boost to downtown retail, which has suffered since the dot-com crash and is only now showing signs of recovery.