Project Summary

When it comes to constructing and renovating hotels, speed is everything, as available rooms represent revenue. With that goal continually at the forefront, Nibbi completed the complex seismic upgrade of San Francisco’s Hotel Abri two months ahead of schedule, and the tenant improvement portion of the project by the established substantial completion date.

The 5-story Hotel Abri (formerly called the Monticello Hotel) was built in 1907, the year after the big San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. The building survived the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, but when Larkspur Hotels and Restaurants purchased the Monticello, the company decided immediately to have the structure made more seismically safe.

The seismic upgrade included the installation of shotcrete, shear walls, perimeter angle iron ties, soil anchors and large concrete footings, and other mechanical and rough carpentry connections. Nibbi also performed hotel improvements including reconfiguration, a full lobby TI, and system changes to public spaces and guestrooms. The challenges of the project included a conflict between the building’s existing infrastructure and the seismic design. The team had to reroute the electrical systems through a concrete beam in order to maintain headroom. The electrical work was also done at night so as to not interrupt the operations of the businesses below the hotel. The 57,982 SF building remained in operation, with existing tenants, during the course of construction with little to no disruptions to the hotel’s ongoing operations.

“The Nibbi management team met all challenges exceedingly well, with professionalism and, maybe even more importantly, a caring, cooperative approach. Larkspur is very happy with the outcome.”

Jim Hansen, Vice President
Larkspur Hospitality