Vedanta Society Old Temple San Francisco

During the 2014 seismic campaign I walked the opened basement trenches and watched conservators document foundation piers before retrofitting; they removed infill soil by hand, mapped the redwood sill conditions, and installed moisture monitors along the alley to confirm the rubble footings remained stable under seasonal groundwater swings ([1][4]). The team recovered fragments of original brick vents and catalogued them for the archives before regrading the perimeter drains ([1][4]).

Major restoration in 1975 cleaned and regrouted the brick foundations before landmark designation; subsequent 1989 repairs inserted concealed steel ties, and the 2014 campaign restored copper roofing, repointed shingles, upgraded electrical and fire alarm systems, and repainted interiors with low-VOC limewash while artisans conserved the altar icons and reinstalled the original teak screens ([1][3][4]).

Vedanta Society

The temple rises on shallow rubble footings capped by lime-mortared brick stem walls that elevate redwood sill beams above Cow Hollow's sand lenses, providing continuous bearing for the timber shell ([4]). Builders ran continuous redwood studs from sill to roof plate, threading mortised knee braces at tower corners and locking each storey with sawn-plank diaphragms; this sequence created uninterrupted load paths while keeping the envelope light enough for the hillside site ([1][4]). Laminated redwood ribs were steamed on site, then strapped with copper bands before the dome sheathing was soldered into place, allowing the lantern to flex under wind without tearing the plaster soffit below ([4]). Interior finishes such as teak screens, brass lamps, and plaster medallions were installed after the structural shell closed, using concealed blocking and tongue-and-groove decking that still permits later retrofits without disturbing the primary frame ([1][3]). The basement refectory employs brick piers and rubble-infill sleeper walls to lift Douglas fir joists clear of moisture, while sheet-metal ducts tied to sidewalk ventilation wells manage subgrade humidity without mechanical plant ([4]). Original copper gutters and downspouts were soldered to a perimeter leader system that discharges into yard drains, protecting the footings while feeding the meditation garden cisterns introduced during later conservation works ([3][4]). Exterior cedar shingles and interior cedar wainscot were pre-cut off-site, then fixed with square-cut nails that match the structural hardware schedule, avoiding mixed metals that could accelerate corrosion in the marine fog ([1][4]).

7 items

Perimeter walls remain balloon-framed but the 2014 retrofit overlaid 19-millimetre plywood diaphragms above the third floor, tying the tower and nave into a single lateral unit; collectors run along the gallery beams and feed new LVL shear walls hidden behind the west stair, so wind and seismic forces move into the brick piers without overstressing historic plaster ([4]). Concealed steel tie rods span the sanctuary ceiling, anchoring into epoxy-grouted hold-downs so lateral loads transfer from the dome into the diaphragms before descending the stair-core walls ([4]). The octagonal tower's paired studs are stitched with horizontal girts that resist torsion, while the copper-clad dome relies on laminated ribs and a circular compression ring to keep uplift in check ([4]). Floor framing in the sanctuary spans between timber spandrels and is braced with diagonal let-in members, preventing racking when the congregation loads the gallery during major festivals ([1][4]). Mechanical distribution routes through existing chases and the attic crawlspace, ensuring that new conduits do not cut through primary members; this restraint keeps the balloon frame free of notching or modern hanger plates ([4]). In the basement, brick sleeper walls create ventilation channels beneath the pine flooring, and the original rubble-infill piers were jacketed with low-profile steel to enhance axial capacity while preserving the historic footprint ([4]). Rainwater is captured by copper gutters that now discharge into a drip-irrigation manifold for the courtyard, reducing splash-back along the foundation while supporting landscaped buffers that temper marine wind around the entries ([1][3]).

37.797400, -122.433200

{"notes":"Historic timber building with narrow interior stairs; ushers provide seating assistance during services ([1][3])","restrooms":"Basement restrooms open during programs; gender-neutral option available ([1])","wheelchair_accessible":"Partial via side ramp to assembly hall; sanctuary access supported with portable lift by request ([1][3])"}

8 items

Visit mid-morning on weekdays when filtered daylight illuminates the altar and the sanctuary remains quiet for meditation, or attend the 6:00 PM vesper service Fridays to experience chanting and incense under the copper dome before sunset paints the tower ([3][4]).

5 items

Wear modest, shoulder-covering attire; remove shoes before entering sanctuary; silence phones; photography only with prior permission; consume food and drink exclusively in the basement refectory; maintain quiet during meditation periods ([3]).

3

Yes

Yes

75

complete

2025-11-09T02:42:57.605894+00:00

2025-11-09T02:42:57.605894+00:00