Accelerating Shelter Solutions: The Mission Tiny Cabins Relocation Project

RPM had the distinct honor of partnering with the City of San Francisco to serve as the Engineer of Record (EOR) and Architect of Record (AOR) for the temporary Mission Tiny Cabins project.

Originally conceived as a temporary solution, the lifespan of the initial site was unexpectedly cut short when development timing accelerated for a planned mid-rise affordable housing project. The City acted quickly, securing a new site just three-quarters of a mile away. This crucial relocation was fully funded by private donors, making it a true testament to the power of a private-public partnership.

Rapid Deployment in Record Time

Facing a critical timeline, and leveraging San Francisco's new emergency shelter measures, RPM prioritized speed and efficiency. We were able to assist in the accelerated approval of the relocation project by:

• Enveloping the structural construction documents (CDs) in just one week.

• Receiving the necessary site permit only one week later.

Innovation in Foundation Systems

A key to this project's potential success was our engineering approach to the foundation. We developed a creative foundation system that allowed the tiny cabins to be quickly relocated and anchored to the new site without requiring traditional concrete foundations.

While the project was unfortunately canceled due to unforeseen budget shortfalls, the rapid design and permitting process—coupled with the innovative foundation system—demonstrated a vital proof-of-concept: emergency shelter and interim supportive housing projects can be delivered with extraordinary speed and cost-competitiveness when compared to conventional construction methods.

RPM is committed to delivering innovative, fast-track solutions that address the critical need for temporary and supportive housing infrastructure.