California College of the Arts Campus Expansion

Coffman provided fire and life safety code consulting services and a hazardous materials assessment for the new mass timber building at California College of the Arts (CCA) San Francisco campus. Since its founding in 1907, CCA has evolved into a vibrant institution offering 34 art and design disciplines, from jewelry, ceramics, and textiles to metal arts, architecture, and animation. Designed as a collaborative creative space, the new building extends from CCA’s main academic facility, introducing expanded art-making studios, learning environments, and green spaces that foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

The concrete ground level serves as a hub for hands-on, physically intensive practices, featuring indoor-outdoor workshops organized around shared tools and materials. Its open, adaptable layout encourages visibility and interaction across programs, supporting evolving media and technologies.

Above this foundation, two mass timber pavilions house classrooms, studios, and galleries. These structures are among California’s first exposed mass timber buildings and connect to a terraced green landscape that bridges the lower and upper levels. The deep balconies offer outdoor circulation and informal spaces for learning, working, and gathering, while the expressive diagrid structure and natural materials reflect CCA’s commitment to sustainability.

Two large maker yards carved into the concrete base bring in fresh air and daylight, enhancing the interior environment. With infrastructure designed for a future net-positive, closed-loop system, the building prioritizes healthy, resilient spaces for students, faculty, and visitors alike.

Photo Credit: Jason O’Rear