In May 2012, Fort Mason Center launched an international design competition, seeking ideas to take all the great that happens there now and make it GREATER—more connection, more events, longer visits.

To inspire a conceptual vision, our team is planning a four-week public event/think-tank/design camp. Starting September 9, we will hunker down at Fort Mason Center to learn, design, interact, tour, display, prototype. Structured around weekly thematic adventures, the camp will explore topics onsite with each other, invited guests, and the community.

But why change what’s working?
Fort Mason Center is a model of adaptive reuse, an arts and cultural hub, and a National Historic Landmark. It’s a wonderful and successful place to preserve and respect. But there is the potential for more. Take for instance, the Bay. Can you imagine ways the center can be better connected—ecologically, recreationally, and symbolically—to the Bay? We can!

So, who’s behind this?
Good question. In bringing together the right people to think with us, we asked three questions: Who are the most innovative thinkers in the Bay Area? Who really understands and loves the culture of the city? Who can we imagine spending four weeks design camping with? We are thrilled with the results and can’t wait to put all this brainpower to work.