Stephen Wirtz Gallery
49 Geary St.: San Francisco, CA

To keep pace with the changing tempo of the international art and photography world, the Stephen Wirtz Gallery moved to an abandoned obsolete quarters formerly occupied by Western Union to expand their exhibition spaces, offices, administrative, art preparation, and storage areas.  The new SWG galleries were proportionately designed for painting, sculpture, and photography exhibitions.  The main gallery and the adjacent special exhibitions gallery present the visitors and patrons with the current artist's shows.  From behind the scenes, they discover two more private galleries to explore. The design layout for the art walls was planned using the grid from the existing columns that possessed expressive flared capitals. Sliding paneled tracks of fabric screen the existing side windows to protect artwork from direct light.  A custom reception desk provides administrative workspace as well as a secured surveillance point for the gallery spaces.