by Susan DeFreitas

The only new hotel to open in San Francisco since 2009 recently celebrated its debut with a grand opening block party and ribbon cutting as the Inn at the Presidio welcomed its first 300 guests. The LEED-registered hotel is a project of The Presidio Trust, the organization that administers the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park site and a National Historic Landmark District located at the southern anchor of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Presidio was established in 1776 by Spain and is known as “the birthplace of San Francisco.” In 1846, it became United States Army post, and today, more than 8,000 people live and work in the park. Now, visiting friends and family and tourists alike will have posh accommodations available at the Inn, located in historic Pershing Hall, which previously served the bachelor officers’ quarters for the base.

Featuring 22 guest rooms (17 of which are one bedroom suites), the hotel’s interior design and contemporary furnishings are said to pay tribute to the Presidio’s history while offering “all of the comforts of modern lodging.” Rooms run $195-$350 a night — a small price to pay for lodging in the heart of the city, just minutes from downtown San Francisco, that includes such amenities as front porches with rocking chairs, outdoor lounging and dining options, a complimentary nightly wine and cheese reception, and a gourmet continental breakfast.

The Inn was rehabbed using green building practices and materials and is expected to achieve LEED Gold certification. One of the more interesting green building implementations in this hotel, according to Sherwood Design Engineers, was a 1,300 square foot stormwater treatment cell that treats, retains and attenuates stormwater runoff from this project and the nearby Presidio Archaeology Center.

“The Inn showcases the Trust’s commitment to high quality, green historic rehabilitation,” said Craig Middleton, Presidio Trust Executive Director, in a statement. He goes on to note that the building joins seven historic Presidio building rehabilitations that have already received LEED certification, and 10 more that are currently under review.