Albert Pissis and the Building (and Re-Building) of San Francisco
with journalist Therese Poletti

This event is sold out. Join journalist Therese Poletti on the significance of architect Albert Pissis in defining San Francisco architecture in the wake of the 1906 earthquake and fire, and rebuilding the San Francisco we know and love today. While many of Pissis's works are well known to San Franciscans - the Hibernia Bank, the Flood Building, the former Emporium Department Store -- not as much is known about the architect himself. The talk will discuss the career and works of the well-regarded but enigmatic architect who revived the classical tradition in architecture in a city of architectural chaos, including the beloved Mechanics' building.

Therese Poletti has been a journalist for over 30 years. She is also the author of Art Deco San Francisco: The Architecture of Timothy Pflueger. She has also written about architecture for The Argonaut, published by the San Francisco Historical Society, the online edition of Preservation, a publication of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, VIA Magazine and The Wall Street Journal, and has an upcoming article on architect Albert Pissis in The Classicist, published by the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, a New York non profit. She has also been a volunteer with San Francisco City Guides since 1999, where she leads the Downtown Deco walking tour. She is also currently the preservation director of the Art Deco Society of California, a Berkeley-based non profit.

This discussion is part of Mechanics' Institute's 170th Anniversary Open House celebration.

ABOUT THE OPEN HOUSE

Founded in 1854, Mechanics' Institute is celebrating its 170th anniversary with an all day activation of our historic library, events space, and chess room. All are welcome to explore this literary, arts, and cultural jewel of downtown San Francisco through building tours, scavenger hunts, and library pop-ups throughout the day. Special events include a family story hour, discussions with the leading voices of the Bay Area on the past, present, and future of San Francisco, and a Bastille Day jazz concert with Le Jazz Hot Quartet. The full open house schedule is available below.

Attendees are welcome to register for any and all of the events listed below. Please use individual ticket options to register for the events you would like to attend. While we always welcome same-day and drop-in attendance, only tickets purchased prior to each event will guarantee admission. Mechanics' Institute members receive discounted tickets for all Open House events!

Thank you to our donors Harlan Records and Semmifreddi's!

Open House Schedule

11:00 am: Family Book Fair

12:15 pm: Family Story Hour (no registration required)

1:00 pm: Therese Poletti - The Building (and Re-Building) of San Francisco

2:00 pm: Building Tour

3:00 pm: Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown Jr. and John King on the Past, Present, and Future of San Francisco

4:00 pm: Introductory Chess Lesson

5:00 pm: Happy Hour

6:00 pm: Bastille Day Jazz Concert with Le Jazz Hot Quartet