SAN FRANCISCO (Aug. 3, 2011) – The University of San Francisco (USF)
today announced a signed agreement to purchase the historic Folger Coffee
Building at 101 Howard Street, a stunning and prominently placed building in
the heart of downtown San Francisco. The approximately 100,000-square-foot
building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will serve as a
downtown hub for San Francisco’s oldest university.
Founded
at the corner of Fourth and Market streets in 1855, the University of San
Francisco is returning to its downtown roots with this acquisition. Having a
presence downtown will reinforce the university’s existing business and civic
ties, and underscores USF’s commitment to engage the city on a deeper, mutually
beneficial level.
“For 156
years, USF has served the educational, professional, and commercial communities
of San Francisco,” said USF President Stephen A. Privett, S.J. “With the
acquisition of the Folger Building, we return to where we began, in the middle
of the mix of downtown San Francisco. This investment in our future extends the
University’s reach from its main campus on Fulton Street into one of the city’s
most vibrant districts, providing us with an ideally located center for ongoing
contributions and outreach.”
By
relocating some of the University’s academic programming, USF can provide new
experiences for a variety of students and tailor educational opportunities to
meet the changing needs of the City. This downtown presence will augment the
rigorous academic experiences offered on USF’s main campus.
Updated
information about the University’s offerings at the 101 Howard building will be
announced as plans for the site are finalized. USF is in the process of
deciding what academic programs, administrative units, and educational offerings
make the most sense to be based downtown. Tenants with current lease agreements
will continue to occupy the space.
About USF
Established in
1855, USF is San Francisco’s oldest university and is consistently ranked as
one of the most ethnically diverse universities in the country. The University
of San Francisco is committed to being a premier Jesuit Catholic, urban
university with a global perspective that educates leaders who will fashion a
more humane and just world. With nearly 9,600 students enrolled both on- and
off-campus, the university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional
students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as persons and
professionals, and the values and sensitivity necessary to be men and women for
others. For more information about the University of San Francisco, please
visit www.usfca.edu.
For
more information, or to schedule an interview about USF’s presence in downtown
San Francisco, please contact Anne-Marie Devine 415.422.2697 or abdevine@usfca.edu
