SF’s First Hire Just Climbed Higher!

Atelier Ten is pleased to announce that Brian Meinrath joins the San Francisco office leadership as an Associate Director!

Since joining Atelier Ten in 2008, as the first local hire in the San Francisco office, Brian has demonstrated his passion for sustainability within the built environment through complex project work varying from academic facilities and research labs to commercial towers and cultural buildings. He was instrumental in defining the sustainability goals and water conservation scheme for San Francisco’s Salesforce Transit Center, a 1.4 million sq ft transportation station, and the custom façade and shading design for 633 Folsom. Brian specializes in complex campus projects, including the zero-carbon Microsoft Campus Modernization Project, an expansion to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the LEED Gold University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Discovery and Transformation Buildings. To celebrate his promotion, we asked Brian about some of the memorable moments in his career (so far!) with Atelier Ten…

Do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on at A10?

My favorite project is still one of the first I worked on at Atelier Ten, years ago: the Transbay/Salesforce Transit Center. I love the thriving, lushly planted public rooftop park with landscape plants selected from around the world, and I love that as a San Francisco resident I get to use the park and benefit from a project I worked on. We consulted on the project’s water reuse scheme and helped navigate the project through the permitting process. It was one of the first projects in San Francisco to be permitted to use reclaimed water for flushing and irrigation.

What sustainability priorities have you seen in the built environment industry lately? Have you seen any major shifts in priorities since you started at A10?

There’s an increasing interest in renewable energy and net-zero energy buildings. Until recently, energy production happened offsite. Lately, designers must consider onsite production versus offsite renewable energy procurement. It’s fascinating to learn more about this crucial aspect of our civilization, and we’re still learning the best ways to approach this issue on projects. We designers increasingly have more tools to achieve decarbonization.

What is your favorite part about working at A10?

At Atelier Ten we get to work with brilliant clients and collaborators to find solutions to mitigate climate change. We advocate for the wellness and well-being of our buildings’ future occupants; and by identifying and solving problems like glare, thermal discomfort, and poor acoustics, we ensure that our projects become high-quality spaces that are delightful to be in. And my co-workers here are the best!

Beyond work, any other exciting news in your life? 

We bought a new house in January. And by new, I mean almost a hundred years old and in need of lots of work. That personal project is slowly ramping up. This summer included quite a bit of travel, seeing old friends we hadn’t seen since the pandemic, which was wonderful. But the most recent news is our new miniature schnauzer, Kölsch. He’s the most mischievous, sweet, and insane little thing, a joyful combination of traits that only a puppy can pull off.

We can’t wait to see what incredible work Brian will continue to do in his new role as Associate Director.