TENDERLOIN AIDS RESOURCE CENTER  [ Interior Design ]

The Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center (TARC) is the first facility of its kind in San Francisco: a storefront offering free counseling, HIV-testing and information on HIV-AIDS to anyone who walks in off the street. First opened in the early 90’s, it responds to the need to bring information and services to people who are extremely vulnerable to contracting AIDS: drug addicts, sex workers, the homeless, and those without healthcare. TARC, a non-profit, was founded by Tenderloin community activists who remain committed to the idea that education is the key to preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Objective

After a decade of operation, TARC has contacted you to provide design services for its renovation. With a new and slightly more generous construction budget, TARC has decided to “gut” the original design and completely remodel. The new design must address several issues that have evolved over the years, some a result of TARC’s success and growth, and others the result of overly optimistic assumptions made by the client and designers in the original design.