Prominently located along the Great Highway on the western edge of Golden Gate Park and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Beach Chalet had remained vacant for over a decade. Heller Manus developed a renovation program for the landmark building, which was designed by Willis Polk and constructed in 1925.

The program includes a Golden Gate Park Environmental Visitor’s Center and gift shop on the ground floor and a restaurant on the second level. Modifications to the building include the addition of an elevator, new ADA-compliant bathrooms, and new interior finishes in keeping with the building’s historic character. The renovation respects the existing interior frescos by Lucien Labaudt.

Behind the main lobby is the adjoining light-filled, open air restaurant, the Park Chalet, which was also designed by Heller Manus.