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Sewer

Beauty in the Build: Art and Innovation at the New Headworks Facility

Aerial drone view of art wall titled "Whorl Whirl: Our Circular Nature" by the noted artist, Norie Sato,
  • Chris Colwick

Earlier this year, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) marked a major milestone with the completion of the new Headworks Facility Project—the first stop for 80% of San Francisco’s wastewater at the Southeast Treatment Plant. This project is a key achievement in the multi-billion-dollar transformation of the City’s oldest and largest wastewater treatment plant.

These critical upgrades aim to ensure the plant looks better, works better, and smells better for the neighborhood, SFPUC workers and the entire City!

To enhance the plant’s appearance, the new Headworks Facility Project featured:

  • A redesigned building façade
  • Enhanced landscaping with native plants
  • Rotating murals by local artists on construction fencing
  • A newly commissioned permanent art wall adorning the northeast corner of the Southeast Treatment Plant.

Compared to the older buildings at the Southeast Treatment Plant that were made of all concrete and had exposed pipes, the new Headworks Facility’s exterior is comprised of perforated steel base plates, metal fins, and concrete, which contributes to a more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

In 2020, the SFPUC partnered with the San Francisco Arts Commission to engage artists from the Bayview Artist Registry. Four local artists -- Sirron Norris, Malik Seneferu, Nancy Cato, and Afatasi the Artist -- were commissioned to create new works of art, each displayed for one year, transforming Evans Avenue into a vibrant outdoor gallery.

Artist Norie Sato created “Whorl Whirl: Our Circular Nature,” a permanent installation seamlessly integrated into the northeast corner of the Southeast Treatment Plant. Spanning 335 feet in length and 35 feet in height, the piece draws inspiration from the movement and transformation of wastewater — echoing the SFPUC’s mission of resource recovery and environmental stewardship.

“We wanted to evoke the movement of wastewater as it moves through the treatment process,” Sato shared. Her work bridges nature and technology, inviting viewers to reflect on the unseen systems that sustain urban life.

These public artworks are made possible through the SFPUC’s compliance with the City’s 2% for the Arts Ordinance, which dedicates a portion of capital project budgets to public art. In partnership with the San Francisco Arts Commission, artists, and community members, the SFPUC works to create installations that reflect and engage the communities we serve. The SFPUC's approach to commissioning public art helps make visible the often-unseen infrastructure of water, power, and sewer while supporting local artists and enriching the built environment.