Cavallo Point Lodge at Fort Baker

Fort Baker overlooks the sparkling waters of San Francisco Bay, with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge. But in 2002, the old fort closed. Its rundown buildings, contaminated soils, and outdated infrastructure became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. To renovate the historic buildings, restore critical natural habitat, and meet a Congressional mandate to make the site financially self-supporting, the National Park Service invited competitive bids to reimagine Fort Baker.

A team led by Equity Community Builders was selected to transform the site. Patrick Siegman served as the team’s transportation planner, while a Principal at Nelson\Nygaard Consulting.

Today, Fort Baker has been revived as a stunning new lodge, conference center, and environmental institute. 23 historic Colonial Revival buildings surrounding the grassy Parade Ground have been carefully renovated. 11 small lodging buildings were built on the slopes behind.

The key transportation challenge was to minimize the resort’s environmental impact and maximize its historic integrity, without compromising the customer experience expected at a high-end resort. To achieve this, we developed a comprehensive strategy for reducing vehicle trips, parking demand, and asphalt. The plan’s transportation demand management strategy sets forth a coherent package of employee transportation benefits to encourage carpooling, vanpools, bicycling, and riding transit. Complimentary shuttles provide service to Sausalito, the ferry service to downtown San Francisco, and other destinations, making it easy for guests to visit without a car.

To preserve the site’s serenity, as much of it as possible was turned into a pedestrian zone. An intercept parking lot at the entry minimizes motor vehicle trips into the site. Electric carts handle service needs and shuttle guests’ luggage to rooms within the car-free zone. To minimize land disturbance, sites where incompatible modern buildings were removed were repurposed as parking, and permeable pavement reduces runoff.