Innovation Hangar

Met Bethany at The Innovation Hangar. What great customer service and a great venue! The prom was incredible and kudos to Bethany for setting up the DJ, Photo Booth and caricaturist in optimal locations. Great acoustics and refreshing to se ea place in SF with so much room!

Great place for young companies and startups

Interesting. Found it by accident. Was at the Palace of Fine Arts and walked into it. Small but had some interesting things that I never knew. Looks like they are trying to enlarge and add things but wasn’t sure. Had a little ‘café’ inside. A little pricey but it was good and gave decent portions (sandwhich). If at the Palace of Fine Arts, must stop by. Everyone is friendly and helpful.

The Innovation Hangar has taken over the space previously occupied by the Exploratorium. It is now a multipurpose facility for a variety of activities, exhibits, and organizations. You do not enter the building from the tiny parking lot near Lyon anymore, entry is now made through the center doors which face the Palace of Fine Arts.
The beautiful sculptures near the those doors are still there, but little else is.
One area on the left is dedicated to the Panama Pacific International Exposition of 1915. There are several short movies about the exposition you can watch, and a few historical artifacts are on display, like a novagem which covered the Tower of Jewels. There is a map which shows how much of the Presidio area the fair occupied.
A little further to the left of the PPIE exhibit is a large play area for the kids. There are numerous shapes made out of blue foam to put together, some of which look like the Fun Noodles in your pool. I saw a lot of designs which looked like forts. Your kids will play here all day if you let them.
The folks who run the Maker Faire are upstairs. Today I saw an impressive collection of homegrown drones, but unfortunately none of them were flying. I also got to see a 3D printer at work for the first time.
There is a small café straight back from the entrance where you can buy drinks and snacks. But if you are looking for a full meal, you must search elsewhere.
Best of all: the Innovation Hanger is free! But they will gratefully accept any donations.

The Innovation Hangar is really the first new tech showcase/​workspace in the SF Bay Area (maybe in the world). It’s large scale, top-​notch, full of awesome smart people, and isn’t in some sketchy Soma neighborhood.

Many people know this space as the former site of the Exploratorium (now on Fisherman’s Wharf), but it’s got a much older, glamorous history as the site of the 1915 World’s Fair. You can access the Hangar directly from the pathway bordering the Palace of Fine Arts’ iconic columns. I can hardly think of a more contrasting, but beautiful juxtaposition. When it finally opens this month, it hopes to join the tech revolution by hosting educational workshops for students, offering workspace for start-​ups and entrepreneurs, and exhibiting some of the latest and greatest in Bay Area advancements.
The venue is also a unique space for holding a large event — which is how I was first introduced to the new space, at a holiday party. This hangar, warehouse, industrial edifice, whatever you want to call it, gave me quite the workout over the course of an evening. Even when filled with (MANY) tables, a stage, kitchen, workshops/​activities, a photobooth, various props, and 500+ people, it never felt crowded. Giant hangar numbers painted on the inner walls and the pipes criss-​crossing the ceiling certainly give off the impression of participating in something mysterious, and BIG. The main lights were mostly shut off in favor of dramatic colored floor lights and giant projector «wallpapers», making each new corner a delightful surprise to discover. The space also has an observation deck-​style second floor, where you can people watch a fairly long distance. Bathrooms? Of course! A full wing of both men’s and women’s restrooms is on the left (from when you enter) wall. Both paper towel dispensers and air dryers are available — take your pick.
I’ll pass further judgment until the space is really open and further exploration commences. This one will be waiting in eager anticipation! :)