A November groundbreaking is scheduled for the 2.3-million-sf Oceanwide Center in San Francisco that, when completed, will be part of this city’s ambitious creation of a new Transbay neighborhood that includes more than 6 million sf of new downtown office space in a high-density commercial core surrounding the new five-story Transbay Transit Center.
The San Francisco Planning Commission has granted planning permission for Oceanwide Center, consisting of two towers—a 605-foot-high building for a hotel and residences, and an 850-foot-tall office and residential building—that will be located within a 22,000-sf lot in the South of Market Street (SOMA) district. The designers are Foster + Partners and Heller Manus Architects.
Foster + Partners states that this project will include new public spaces and pedestrian connections that are designed to support increased density, which is one of the goals of the larger Transbay development. Kathryn Gustafson of the firm Gustafson Guthrie Nichol is Oceanwide Center’s landscape architect.
The ground level of the buildings will be “lifted up” by almost five stories to provide the neighborhood with an “urban room” with walking routes cutting through the site, and leading to shops, cafes, and green spaces.
“This development will be the new exemplar of urban living with exciting places to live and work right alongside the central transport hub,” sayd Stefan Behling, Foster + Partners’ Senior Executive Partner.
Beijing-based Oceanwide Holdings acquired this site in early 2015, according to the website Hoodline.com. The plans would require tearing down three buildings. The developer also intends to renovate two existing commercial buildings on First Street. Hoodline reports that Oceanwide Center will include 265 residential units, 169 hotel rooms, 12,500 sf of ground-floor retail, and 26,000 sf of privately owned public open space.
The Transbay Redevelopment Project has three interconnected elements:
- Replacing the former Transbay Terminal at First and Mission Streets
- Extending Caltrain and California High Speed Rail underground from Caltrain’s current terminal at 4th and King Streets into the new downtown Transit Center
- Creating a new neighborhood of homes, offices, parks, and shops surround the Transit Center.
The first phase will create a new five-story Transit Center with one above-grade bus level, ground-floor, concourse, and two below-grade rail levels serving Caltrain and future California High Speed Rail. Phase I will also create new bus ramp that will connect the Transit Center to a new off-site bus storage facility and the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
The Transit Center is designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects (PCPA), and will feature a 5.4-acre park on the roof of the bus and rail station. A complementary transit tower designed by PCPA and developed by Hines will be built adjacent to the Transit Center and will provide additional financing for the project.
Aside from the new office space, other highlights of the Transbay redevelopment plan include:
- Nearly 4,400 units of new housing, 1,200 of which will be permanently affordable.
- Approximately 100,000 sf of new retail space, much of it in the Transbay Transit Center.
- Nearly 1,000 new hotel rooms.
- A dramatic new skyline punctuated by a limited number of taller buildings, including a 1,070-foot-tall Salesforce Tower, the tallest in San Francisco, adjacent to the Transbay Transit Center.
- Wide sidewalks with landscaping, lighting, seating, and pedestrian amenities.
- Mid-block crossings keyed to alleyway systems and other pedestrian safety improvements.
- Safe and convenient bicycle lanes.
- A total of more than 11 acres of new public parks and open space.
According to the San Francisco Planning Department, the Transit Center District Plan and the Transbay Redevelopment Plan will generate more than $2.7 billion in net additional public funding for the construction of the Transbay Program and affordable housing in the Transbay neighborhood. Together, the Plans will generate more than 25,000 construction job-years and 27,000 permanent jobs.
One of Oceanwide Center's towers, at 805 feet, will be the second tallest in San Francisco. Image: Foster + Partners
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Sep 15, 2015
Developers tap crowdfunding investors to finance construction and renovation projects
The world’s first crowdfunded skyscraper is near completion in Colombia.
High-rise Construction | Sep 10, 2015
New York’s Central Park Tower loses its spire but still adds some height
This building, the tallest under development at the moment, is the latest manifestation of the city’s luxury residential construction boom.
High-rise Construction | Sep 3, 2015
Rafael Viñoly's 'Walkie-Talkie' tower named U.K.'s worst new building
The curved, glass tower at 20 Fenchurch Street in London has been known to reflect intense heat onto the streets below (in one instance damaging a car) and cause severe wind gusts.
High-rise Construction | Sep 2, 2015
Nashville officials and residents weigh the pros and cons of taller, thinner skyscrapers
One developer proposes building a 38-story tower on a half-acre of land.
Retail Centers | Aug 31, 2015
Urban developers add supermarkets to the mixes
Several high-rise projects include street-level Whole Foods Markets.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 27, 2015
Architects propose shipping container tower to replace slums
The firm says approximately 2,500 containers would be needed to complete the design, which aims to accommodate as many as 5,000 people.
Multifamily Housing | Aug 25, 2015
London multifamily building to have transparent swimming pool designed by Arup
Residents and visitors will be able to swim 10 stories above ground, and see views of London.
High-rise Construction | Aug 14, 2015
Pei Cobb Freed designs ‘glass sail’ tower for Shenzhen
The 29-story tower won’t be the tallest in the city, but it will set itself apart from surrounding, glimmering towers with gently curved façades, resembling sails blown by the wind.
High-rise Construction | Aug 12, 2015
Construction begins for Kengo Kuma-designed twisted Rolex tower in Dallas
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designs tower with gradually rotating floor plates for Rolex's new office in Dallas.
High-rise Construction | Aug 11, 2015
Calatrava's Turning Torso wins CTBUH's 10 Year Award
The 623-foot, 57-story tower was the world's first twisting skyscraper. Completed in 2005, the building, designed by Santiago Calatrava, rotates 90 degrees along its height.
