A new 443-unit apartment building designed by David Baker Architects (DBA) was recently completed in San Francisco, filling in a growing section of the city's Design District and South of Market neighborhoods.

The dynamic apartment complex, known as 855 Brannan, sits on a 4.3-acre site and includes 15 "at-grade flex lofts," according to the architects. 

It's perimeter block formation is marked by generous landscape designs created by CMG Landscape Architecture that include a row of mature palms and a grove of redwood trees situated within one of the apartment courtyards. Crisscrossed by privately owned alleys, 16,000 square feet of commercial spaces, and other linkages, the metal panel wrapped apartments represent the latest multi-family housing addition by the firm to the city. The market-rate development compliments the firm's other affordable and mixed-income projects, which all feature similarly dynamic and thoughtful material articulation and site design. 

In addition to completing this project, DBA was also recently awarded the AIA California 2020 Firm Award, an honor bestowed on the 38-year-old practice "based on not only the quality of their work, but the impact-driven design philosophy they embody. The work they do often leads to the higher cause of helping to solve the housing crisis," according to AIA California. 

All of which is to say that if this project piques your interest and one of the thoughts that springs into your mind is "Gee, I'd love to work on these types of designs," you are in luck, because DBA happens to be hiring for a handful of positions currently advertised on Archinect Jobs.

These positions include an entry-level Marketing Coordinator, an Architectural Designer with 3-5 years experience, an Architectural Designer with an Urban Design focus, as well as a Construction Administrator with at least 10 years of experience. 

David Baker, founder of DBA, told Archinect in a recent Studio Snapshot highlighting the firm that multi-family housing represents part of a growing set of project types the firm is currently engaged with. Baker explained, "We are still focused very much on housing but have grown into taking on new typologies and related areas, such as development proposals at a neighborhood scale and community-based hospitality." 

These focuses, given the current state of the economy and the persistent housing crisis gripping both California and the rest of the country, leave lots of room for growth for the established firm. 

In the previous interview, Baker added, "We have become much more family-friendly, equitable, and collaboration-oriented over time. We support a reasonable work schedule and culture, and we have a flat structure, meaning people are pretty empowered and responsible for their own work rather than reporting upward or taking orders from above."

"We find that if people have a good work environment and get to spend quality time with their families and communities, they have more energy, creativity, and focus to bring to their work, not less."