The Madelon | San Francisco, CA

San Francisco's Mission District carries a deep industrial history alongside a lively residential identity. On a site with three street frontages, Nick Podell Company saw the opportunity to bring both stories together in a single mixed-use development, with new homes above and neighborhood life at the street.

The six-story building had to serve many uses at once: a restaurant, retail space and live/work opportunities at grade, with 194 residential units on the upper levels, in Type III A over I A construction. Three frontages meant three faces to the city, each needing to engage the sidewalk. The design answered the district's character directly, expressing the project as one industrial brick building and one contemporary building so that the old and new identities of the Mission could stand side by side. BDE Architecture partnered with the client to carry that idea through to the details, including an ornate, hand-carved brick entry.

Completed in 2020, The Madelon adds homes and ground-floor activity to the neighborhood. In 2021, the project received the Brick In Architecture Award (Gold), recognition of a building that honors where the Mission has been while welcoming those who live there now.

Address: 2823 18th St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Client: Nick Podell Company

Number of Units: 194

Construction Type: IIIA / IA

Year Completed: 2020

Photographer: Lizy Daly

Red brick multi-story apartment building with black-framed windows and small balconies, trees lining the sidewalk in front, clear blue sky overhead.
A modern 6-story brick apartment building on a city street with small trees lining the sidewalk.
A multi-story brick apartment building with black balcony railings and large windows, adjacent to a sidewalk lined with trimmed trees.
A brick building with the number 2023 engraved above the entrance, framed by greenery with leaves partially blocking the view. The building has a large window at the top.
Rooftop terrace with outdoor seating, potted plants, and a view of a cityscape with hills in the background.
Red brick building with black lantern-style wall sconces and small trees along sidewalk.
Doormat with the text 'The Madison' in front of a brick building entrance with black iron door.