Skyscrapers and Starchitects Coming Soon to Downtown San Francisco

Take a tour of the changes coming the to the Transbay District in San Francisco.

1 minute read

January 31, 2016, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Anyone who explores San Francisco’s Transbay district today encounters a slice of a city in flux," writes San Francisco Chronicle architecture critic John King. "At one extreme, structural steel pushes toward the sky and straddles gridlocked streets. At the other, alleyways sprout life that would have been unimaginable a generation ago."

The specifics of the first half of that description include the city's soon-to-be tallest building, under construction now and two more skyscrapers set to begin construction soon. Expected soon for Planning Commission review are also plans for yet another skyscraper that would exceed the city's tallest existing buildings.

King provides a design preview of the abundance of tall buildings, designed by such luminaries of the architecture field as Foster + Partners and OMA. After looking up at these forthcoming projects, King shifts the perspective of the column to provide this optimistic summation of the forthcoming collection of projects:

Today we’re confronted by cranes and noise. Once the dust settles, with luck and vigilant planning, we’ll have a dynamic 21st century neighborhood that’s a fresh twist on what a West Coast city can be.

Saturday, January 30, 2016 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Interior of Place Versailles mall in Montreal, Canada.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units

Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

May 22, 2025 - CBC

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 28, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Nevada State Senate building.

Nevada Legislature Unanimously Passes Regional Rail Bill

If signed by the governor, the bill will create a task force aimed at developing a regional passenger rail system.

May 28 - KRNV News 4

Blue sidewalk curb cut painted with white accessibility symbol.

How Infrastructure Shapes Public Trust

A city engineer argues that planners must go beyond code compliance to ensure public infrastructure is truly accessible to all users.

May 28 - Governing

Protester at Echo Park Lake, Los Angeles holding sign that says "Housing is a human right"

Photos: In Over a Dozen Cities, Housing Activists Connect HUD Cuts and Local Issues

We share images from six of the cities around the country where members of three national organizing networks took action on May 20 to protest cuts to federal housing funding and lift up local solutions.

May 28 - Shelterforce Magazine