SAN FRANCISCO | 181 Fremont | 802 FT | 52 FLOORS

[peanut gallery]

Interesting. 50 Fremont and Millennium really get overshadowed in these. Fortunately, the actual designs for Transbay and 181 Fremont will minimize this due to tapering.

I also noticed they showed the second Infinity tower completed, plus its two-tower sister next door, but only the taller One Rincon tower completed.

[BTinSF]

Originally Posted by tyler82

I think BofA at 1200' would be pretty cool

Sorry, not me. I don't even care for it at its present height.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Interesting. 50 Fremont and Millennium really get overshadowed in these. Fortunately, the actual designs for Transbay and 181 Fremont will minimize this due to tapering.

Millennium will continue to show from the east for the foreseeable future though, adding to a great downtown view from the water.

[peanut gallery]

That's true. It will also be visible from certain northern angles as well. I could see the crane poking out between some of the buildings from the water off Telegraph Hill this evening.

[caramatt]

As others have said, it may just be the low quality rendering, but this looks to be a huge, graceless mess. I completely agree with SFView that Heller Manus' best work comes from collaborations with world class architects, and unfortunately at this point our local firm is far from being one itself. Everyone should go over and take a look at the portfolio on Heller Manus' website, which to me jumps out as being generic and mediocre. They just don't seem to understand how to properly detail a building on a large scale. And this isn't once or twice, it looks to be on every tower they've designed. Look at our skyline and see which recently constructed buildings you wish had had just a bit more thought put into the design. Most likely they're the work of Heller Manus.

Anyway, to sum it up: this is one clunky, inelegant tower.

[SFView]

Infinity, 555 Mission... Add one more to the list: 535 Mission
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...=118924&page=2

[sfguy]

BTW, does anyone know exactly when construction is supposed to start on this tower?

[StevenW]

That's what I want to know as well.

[Lecom]

Finally, Transbay will have an original iconic tower (as opposed to Pelli's 2IFC/Goldman Sachs/1IFC that's supposed to top off the complex).

[roadwarrior]

Originally Posted by sfguy

BTW, does anyone know exactly when construction is supposed to start on this tower?

Weren't they holding off on announcing this until they find out of the height limits are raised for this neighborhood (scheduled to be decided in Summer '08)? Either way, I'd be surprised if the construction began any sooner than within a couple years.

[Reminiscence]

Originally Posted by Lecom

Finally, Transbay will have an original iconic tower (as opposed to Pelli's 2IFC/Goldman Sachs/1IFC that's supposed to top off the complex).

Lets not forget Piano's Towers, which we still have not seen, but should be highly attractive in design and about 300' taller than 181 Fremont. After all, it is Renzo Piano.

Originally Posted by roadwarrior

Weren't they holding off on announcing this until they find out of the height limits are raised for this neighborhood (scheduled to be decided in Summer '08)? Either way, I'd be surprised if the construction began any sooner than within a couple years.

I'm hoping that the studies allow for some seriously tall towers to be built. Could the project just move forward if they decide to cut the tower's height in half (Which I sincerely hope does not happen)? Also, because this is a "green" proposal, does it not get an expedited process?

[Reminiscence]

A note for the moderator going around cleaning up the titles: Good job. The number of floors is currently proposed at 66 Floors. This should be displayed in the title of the thread. Thanks.

[M II A II R II K]

ok there

[BTinSF]

I think you guys are way ahead of yourselves. This is little more than a concept which MIGHT turn into a serious proposal if and when the TransBay Project height limit rezonings are approved. Yes, someone could move something forward now although, without checking the current height limit and, as we are constantly reminded, the FAR limits (because this is a pretty small site), I'm guessing it would have to be much less than even half of 900 feet. And why would they? By waiting 6 months or so, they might be able to go substantially higher (I deem it pretty likely a major upzoning will be approved even if it isn't what has been proposed). And besides, with what smells like a recession coming on it would take major cajones to propose and actually move forward on a new spec office building right now--IF financing were available which is dubious.

It seems like wishful thinking too often clouds too many views of reality around here.

[NDPhilly]

It does remind me of the tower in Hong Kong.

[nequidnimis]

Also bear in mind this is just a rendering. Experience shows Heller Manus designs are built with a lot less glass and more stucco than initially depicted.

[AndrewK]

they deserve to be banished from the city if they put stucco on a 900 footer.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by AndrewK

they deserve to be banished from the city if they put stucco on a 900 footer.

Fortunately, stucco would never be put on a skyscraper. Unfortunately, it won't be 900 feet either.

[AndrewK]

touche

[nequidnimis]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

Fortunately, stucco would never be put on a skyscraper.

Isn't the finish of the Meridien/Argent hotel a coat of stucco? I believe it was applied over the origianl precast concrete (or perhap it was cast in place concrete, I am not sure), as part of the remodel a few years back. Daniel Burnham Court, which is over 200', is also stucco. It certainly can be done. All it takes is an architect/developer team intent on controlling cost.