Gelfand Partners Architects

09/05/2025

09/24/2022

A small step can go a pretty long way...when we started working along side the Los Altos School District, back in 2001 we had a goal: bring sustainable design to school facilities and the communities they served. 20+ years later, our success record in collaborating with the LASD still sets the standards for current design, with what most call "The Blach Approach". A story that caught the attention of DSA, and resulted in two articles in the latest California Sustainable Schools Showcase.

"The goal of the California Sustainable Schools Showcase is to create awareness of strategies that can be implemented in the development of a path to zero net energy, zero carbon, and an overall healthy sustainable school from which other districts can learn."

You may read both articles by checking out our stories highlights or by visiting:

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/DSA/Resources/Page-Content/Resources-List-Folder/Achieving-Net-Zero-Energy-and-Net-Zero-Carbon-in-School-Facilities/Blach-Approach?search=blach%20approach

https://www.dgs.ca.gov/DSA/Resources/Page-Content/Resources-List-Folder/Achieving-Net-Zero-Energy-and-Net-Zero-Carbon-in-School-Facilities/Page-Content/Blach-Intermediate-School

09/13/2022

As most of you know by now, it is a tradition of ours to go on a canoe trip on the Russian River around this time of the year, but severe drought, on top of being a growing issue and a major concern for Californians, makes it hard to paddle on the river this year....so we decided to move our annual trip from the water to the woods, by going on a hike in the East Bay !

And we got to say...it was a great one. Especially for our furry companions: Dwight, Thai and Izzy who got to encounter a couple of horses and, well, more humans.

09/10/2022

to our Happy Hour from last week! A belated celebration for Austen’s and Bingbin’s promotions to Principal and Associate!

Help us say congratulations to them! 🍻

09/06/2022

[ Labor Day ]

With Labor Day just behind us we want to acknowledge our dedicated, talented, and hard-working staff for all we have accomplished this past year, both individually and collectively. Each of us plays an important role at Gelfand Partners and contributes to our success!

We hope you all had a safe and fun three-day weekend!

09/06/2022

[ see next post for full pic ]

09/06/2022

[ Meet Our Team ]

As many of you might know already, Gelfand Partners, founded in 1997, is not only a B-Corp, but a woman-owned full service design firm located in San Francisco, CA. You might also know that the office advances the design of community serving facilities, schools and affordable housing for budget sensitive clients; that we are leaders in sustainable design and that our campuses have been featured on the DSA Schools Showcase....

But here's what, or actually WHO, you probably don't know: our talented and diverse staff! Our staff, from Office Administration to the Architecture Department, comprises beyond obviously architects, a landscape architect and an interior designer... a former university professor, multiple outdoors adventurers, a couple of artists, a former teacher, a baker, a couple of cat moms, dog dads and a number of passionate travelers...so yes, when we say talented, we mean it !

Scroll through to meet them, well... "in person" !

08/16/2022

"Interning at GPA this summer has been an invaluable experience. I got to see the inner workings of an architectural firm, explore many areas of the industry, hone my skills and find my professional interests. I am grateful to the firm for taking the time to teach and work with me. I am very appreciative that I was given the opportunity to take on additional responsibilities and for the opportunity to continue working while I complete my final year of school!"
--Megan Dang

National Intern Day is past due, but we still want to thank our Intern Megan, a promising UC Berkeley Architecture Senior who joined our team in May, and did an amazing job helping both with projects and our marketing materials. We're in fact excited to announce that she will continue to work with us part time starting in September!

Help us give her a warm welcome to the GPA family :)

Photo content: Megan's design and model for the 100B Architecture Studio Class

08/15/2022

Calling all artists: we are looking for talented Californian artists to present their artwork ! Both experienced and emerging artists are welcome, selection will be made based on quality of the art not experience.

Open to individuals and collectives alike: 2D artists, photographers and graphic designers all encouraged to participate.

Submissions due Sept. 1 @ 5pm

For more info, please visit: www.gelfand-partners.com/2022/08/02/call-for-artists-request-for-proposals/

08/12/2022

Sharing progress on our El Carmelo Elementary School in Palo Alto!

Architect: Gelfand Partners
Civil:
Structural:
MEP: Engineering350

08/05/2022

[ 447 Minna - Arts, Culture & Community in Soma ]

After taking part in the Dreaming Spaces design session yesterday, we are extremely proud to be playing an active part in the development at and be partnering with Community Arts Stabilization Trust and in turning this building into their home.

The design phase for PUSH Dance Company BIPOC Sanctuary, located on the third floor at 447 Minna started exactly a year ago with zoom meetings and site visits with the Artistic Director, Raissa Simpson. She envisioned this as a sacred, protected place where artists will feel safe, free and empowered to express themselves. A home that will provide the company with the flexibility to hold dance and meditation classes as well as small performances. The campaign brought performers on site, dancing and filming both on the third floor and outside, while the plaza was still under construction. Now, a year later, the project is going through permitting and the Sanctuary will be completed by Fall.

We can't wait for this project to open its doors to the community.

08/05/2022

[ Dreaming Spaces ]

Yesterday our Architectural Designer Jessika participated in the third session of Dreaming Spaces organized by Community Arts Stabilization Trust at .

What's 447Minna you ask? 447 Minna is not only home to CAST, it is a 2,000+ sq ft Pop Up Space for artist residency, gallery and community involvement. The building, the Kapwa Gardens on Mission and the adjacent Park at 5M are thought of as a cultural and artistic ecosystem that wants to act as intermediary between artists and the greater community at .

The purpose of these Design Days is to capture tangible and intangible design elements, potential installations and initiatives that would favor activation of the space making it an asset for the community. During the session community members, members of the steering committee, CAST staff and designers, were asked to envision activation opportunities for 447 Minna. Our goal as designers, was to help translate those intuitions into visual reproductions through sketches and layouts.

Scroll through to see what the design session led to.