TEF Design

Creating places that connect people is at the heart of our work. TEF. We craft places people love. Learn more at TEFarch.com

TEF Design is an award-winning design practice known for crafting imaginative and enduring places where people come together to share ideas and build community. We are skilled in developing cohesive design solutions that integrate the social, economic and political dynamics of urban development through authentic collaboration and a shared commitment to value, sustainability and performance.

09/03/2026

innovating at the Town Engineering Lab, where big ideas take shape! Two classrooms at Town School were transformed into a flexible Engineering Studio designed for hands-on exploration and creative problem-solving. Serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the space features mobile work surfaces, adaptable teaching tools, and advanced fabrication technologies that support collaboration, experimentation, and inclusive, future-focused learning.

Architecture / Interiors: TEF
Structural Engineer: Murphy Burr Curry
Electric Engineer: Decker Electric
Mechanical Engineer: Legacy Mechanical
Lighting Design: PritchardPeck Lighting
Acoustics Consultant: Acoustic Arts and Engineering
Contractor: Plant Construction Company
📸: Mikiko Kikuyama

08/26/2026

Summertime at the Garfield Center ☀️ Located in San Francisco’s Mission District, the renovation of this cultural hub included the design of a new courtyard connecting the historic mid-century natatorium to the new entry and clubhouse. Inside, there is a pool, and outside, a splash pad for warm weather days!

Architecture: TEF Design in joint venture with Paulett Taggart Architects
Landscape: San Francisco Department of Public Works
Structural: Rivera Consulting Group
Mechanical: Guttmann & Blaevoet
Plumbing / Electrical: E Design C, Inc.
Civil: Leahy Engineering
LEED Consultant: Stok
Owner: City and County of San Francisco

📸: Bruce Damonte

08/21/2026

Grab your pencils and join us this September for a guided sketching series across San Francisco! ✏️

TEF is partnering with the Center for Architecture + Design to present Sketching San Francisco: Exploring Culture, History, and Place as part of the Architecture + the City Festival.

Across three sessions, we’ll visit the Presidio Main Post, St. Mary’s Square, and the Ferry Building, using drawing to explore each site’s architecture, public spaces, materials, movement, light, history, and sense of place. The sessions will be led by TEF’s Doug Tom and Emilio Ponce alongside architectural historian Josh Bevan.

Join us for one session or all three. No drawing experience is required, and basic sketching materials and site-specific snacks will be provided.

A special thank you to ARCH Supplies for generously donating sketching materials for the series. We’re also grateful to Piccino Presidio for providing focaccia for our Presidio Main Post session.

Taking place September 11, 18 + 25, visit 🔗 in bio to register.

Event Sponsors: Piccino Presidio archsupplies

08/13/2026

Shoutout to Megan von Engelbrechten, TEF Architectural Intern extraordinaire, who’s last day was yesterday — thank you for everything these past few months and we wish you all the best!

“I feel immensely lucky having interned at TEF. The team immediately brought me onto active projects, tailored assignments to my specific interests, and trusted me with impactful work. Getting to expand my skills in such a welcoming and supportive environment was invaluable. Thank you, TEF!” - Megan

Pictured here is our ice cream social in Megan’s honor – and a cheesecake she made! 🍨 🍰

08/12/2026

In celebration of Wellness Month, we’re highlighting the many ways thoughtful design can support wellbeing. Across our projects, we look for opportunities to connect people to light and views, encourage movement, foster connection, and create space to pause and recharge.

The St. Regis San Francisco Spa (Mikiko Kikuyama)
Kaiser Fremont Medical Psychiatric Unit (David Wakely)
Cypress School of San Francisco (Mikiko Kikuyama)
College Futures Foundation HQ (Mikiko Kikuyama)
Garfield Community Center (Bruce Damonte)

08/06/2026

We’re pleased to share that the expansion of the California College of the Arts’ campus received a 2026 International Architecture Award from The Chicago Athenaeum Museum and ECAADUS – congratulations to California College of the Arts, Studio Gang, and the entire project team!

Merging art and tech, the new 82,300-square-foot building at CCA expands on the school’s San Francisco campus, establishing a vibrant indoor-outdoor environment for learning and making that strengthens relationships among varied people, ideas, and creative practices.

Design Architect and Architect of Record: Studio Gang
Associate Architect:
General Contractor: Hathaway Dinwiddie
Sustainability Consultant: Atelier Ten
Structural Engineer and Acoustics Engineer: Arup
MEP/FP Engineer: MEYERS+
Landscape Architect: Surfacedesign, Inc.
Civil Engineer: Lotus Water
Lighting Designer: PritchardPeck
Wayfinding and Signage: Public Design
Code, Fire, and Life Safety Consultant: Coffman Engineers
Thermal and Waterproofing Consultant: Thornton Tomasetti
Dry Utility Consultant: Urban Design Consulting Engineers

📸: J A S O N O' R E A R

07/30/2026

Take a first look at Yerba Madre’s new Uptown Oakland headquarters! TEF transformed the top floor of the historic Tapscott Building into a workplace that reflects the company’s evolving identity following its move from Sebastopol. The design carries forward key elements from Yerba Madre’s Los Angeles office and workplace standards while creating a space uniquely tailored to its new home.

TEF provided architectural and lighting design, permit drawings, and construction administration for the 16,719-square-foot tenant improvement, highlighted by a striking suspended steel stair that connects the workspace.

Architecture / Interiors: TEF Design
Builder: CCI
Structural: Murphy Burr Curry

07/23/2026

A special thank you to our 2026 Achieve intern, Malcolm Isaiah Gary!

A student at St. Joseph Notre Dame High School, Malcolm spent the last five weeks with TEF contributing to project work and gaining firsthand industry experience. We greatly appreciated the curiosity, confidence, and positive energy he brought to the studio and wish him continued success!

🔗: https://achieveprogram.org/career-internships/

07/13/2026

Located in Oakland, the Malta Clinic Expansion reconfigures and enlarges an existing clinic within a Diocese-owned building, converting underused office space into a more functional healthcare setting. Completed in two phases, the 3,280-square-foot project makes more effective use of a limited footprint while allowing for future growth. The result is a clinic that functions better for both staff and patients, supporting the Malta Clinic’s ongoing work in the community.

Architecture: TEF Design
Contractor: Oliver & Company
Client: The Order of Malta Clinic of Northern California
📸: Mikiko Kikuyama

07/01/2026

TEF is Hiring! We’re looking to grow our team and currently seeking a Project Architect / Manager and an Intermediate / Senior Interior Architect / Designer. Visit the link in bio for more information on both positions and to apply!

🔗: https://www.linkedin.com/company/109009/admin/posted-jobs/open/

Address

1420 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA
94109

Telephone

+14153917918

Website

http://TEFarch.com/

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