San Francisco’s Skyline is constantly changing. The buildings that define the city’s built environment are continually shifting. Our team looked into the architects who have adequate experience building commercial and large scale residential projects around the city. Although some of these architects are not from San Francisco, they have designed buildings that have helped shape the city. The team took into consideration each architect and firm’s accolades, years in the industry, awards received, and their award-winning works in the city. Listed below are Starchitects and local heroes who have made the biggest impact on San Francisco.
RIM Architects
Address:
639 Front Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111
Larry Cash, FAIA, NCARB, started RIM Architects as a sole proprietor in 1986. Today, it is a 70-strong team working out of five offices in Alaska, northern and southern California, Guam, and Hawaii. The firm is recognized for its work in remote and coastal areas where earthquakes, tidal waves, frigid temperatures, and other extreme climatic conditions provide an extra challenge. Now serving as Chairman of the Board, Cash is joined by David McVeigh, AIA, NCARB, as President and CEO. McVeigh has been with the firm for over 30 years, starting as Executive Vice President and COO, and has worked in all of its offices. He envisions RIM as a global company and has forayed into hospitality design in Asia and the South Pacific.
The firm transformed an existing building at 81-85 Bluxome Street into a new five-story, 56,850-square-foot office building. Open floor plates were ready to be adapted for future tenants’ specific needs. The building was fully leased to a single tenant shortly after completion. The fifth floor houses a private tenant roof deck and common amenities. Rustic refined panels with an oxidized finish frame open window bays along the building’s façade. There are also bike lockers and shower facilities in the structure. RIM’s use of modern materials and sustainable design practices earned the project LEED Gold certification. The building was also the first WELL certified (by DELOS) in San Francisco, and also earned the new US Resiliency Council (USRC) Gold Rating.
hb+a Architects
Address:
100 Pine Street, Suite 1250, San Francisco, CA 94111
Hafsa Burt, AIA founder of hb+a Architects earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She then went on to work with leading firms and landmark projects in San Francisco before starting hb+a Architects. Her extensive record includes experience with urban retail, institutional, commercial, and mixed-use design, which she draws on as she continues to lead this tech-savvy design studio.
A study in net-zero energy prefabricated structures, the Box Factory is an example of hb+a’s pioneering work in designing healthy buildings and environmental sustainability. The 1,750-square-foot project is completely off-grid and runs solely on renewable energy. Flexible in its design, the structure can serve as a single-family home or a hospitality space. The intent was to explore construction efficiencies and produce a project resilient to climate emergencies. Hafsa Burt as the architect and founder of Box Lab set ambitious goals upfront to achieve a truly off-grid project that relies only on renewable energy for all its functions. Ahead of electrification mandates in California, the project proves to be a successful, working example of electrification not dependent on fossil fuels.
The interior explores minimalist architectural form to inspire through light and color, its relationship to the land, and sweeping views. The design focus is on the space and resource preservation that grasps a visitor as soon as they enter the home. The project serves as a retreat for industry peers and climate activists. The Box factory has been honored by Fast Company in its Innovation by Design Awards 2020 and has also won the Innovative Material Award from the German Design Council. Photo above is taken by Doug Birnbaum.
Fougeron Architecture
Address:
521 Francisco Street, San Francisco
Since 1985, French-American architect Anne Fougeron has been a nationally recognized architect whose work is on display throughout the Bay Area. Fougeron has been recognized by the AIA and has taught architectural design at the California College of Art and the University of California, Berkeley. With over 30 years of experience, she has been trusted to redesign many of San Francisco’s historic and culturally significant buildings, including Brava Theater, a 1918 Carnegie library.
The firm, composed of 14 architects and designers, was acknowledged as one of the 50 best architectural firms in the United States by Residential Architect Magazine. Fougeron’s innovative work is defined by its use of natural light and the ability to use design elements to enhance people’s interaction with the built form. Fougeron Architecture is known for its collaborative and creative approach which directly includes craftsmen and artists into the design process. The firm has been awarded over 60 design awards, 240 press features, and countless repeat clients from the industry.
Fougeron has designed numerous commercial, civic, residential, and multi-family housing projects throughout the Bay Area. One impeccable design in its portfolio is the Ingleside Library, which won a national design competition and was awarded The Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick Prize for the best new building in San Francisco by the Architectural Foundation San Francisco. Fougeron Architecture has also been trusted with renovating the Sunset Branch Library, a historic Carnegie library built in 1918, and a 5,000-square-foot remodel of the historic Brava Theatre.
Garcia Tamjidi
Address:
10 Lombardo Street, Suite 150, San Francisco. CA 94111
San Francisco’s top companies have trusted Garcia Tamjidi’s efficient and innovative designs for over 20 years. The firm’s design for the Airbnb’s headquarters has been widely praised for its exceptional design. Michael Garcia and Farid Tamjidi founded the architecture firm in 1997. The two leaders both studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where they met. The firm has exhibited expertise in a wide range of building projects, from single office buildings and small residences to high-rise and large commercial buildings. Its designs focus on incorporating over 100 years of architectural theory with the newest ideas from the field. The firm uses state of the art technology to create truly innovative designs.
Garcia Tamjidi has designed commercial spaces across the Bay Area. One of the firm’s recent design includes Airbnb’s San Francisco Headquarters in SoMa. Its unique design is based on the company’s open corporate culture and includes meeting rooms modeled after featured listings on their site. This means the overall design includes influences from around the world, from Hong Kong to New York to Berlin. The firm also completed a major expansion for a venture capital firm’s office that includes a vaulted hallway and focuses on capturing natural light. Other commercial works by Garcia Tamjidi include a downtown San Francisco office for beauty brand incubator Kendo, Mountain View offices for analytics firm Elastic and temporary office space for the Parker Foundation in Presidio.
DLR Group | Kwan Henmi (fmr. Kwan Henmi Architecture & Planning )
Address:
456 Montgomery Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94104
For over 35 years, the San Francisco Bay Area has witnessed Sylvia Kwan and Denis Henmi’s architectural expertise. Kwan and Henmi have separately been recognized as Fellows by the American Institute of Architects, one of the highest honors bestowed on individual architects for their significant contributions to architecture and society. Kwan Henmi Architecture and Planning was founded in San Francisco in 1980. Kwan’s commitment to building relationships and working with local organizations has made her a respected community leader. The San Francisco Business Times has named her one of the 75 Most Influential Women in Business. Her wealth of expertise and credentials have helped her built the firm’s solid reputation in architecture and design. On the other hand, Henmi is an expert in navigating the complex field of urban building and is committed to providing outstanding service. His significant contributions to the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare were awarded NCARB’s highest honor, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service. Henmi’s experiences leading a handful of industry associations have shaped his leadership among the Kwan Henmi Architecture & Planning team. Both architects are LEED AP certified as seen on most of its designs that incorporate sustainable building practices. In 2017, Omaha, NE-based global integrated design firm DLR Group acquired the firm, with Kwan and Henmi continuing to lead the office.
Kwan Henmi’s thought-provoking designs can be seen in residential, educational, civic, transportation, and commercial projects across the city. The firm is responsible for the final architectural design for the $1.6 billion Central Subway project in San Francisco. Kwan Henmi also worked with the College of San Mateo’s new Health and Wellness Complex and the College of Marin Diamond P.E. Complex, both of which earned LEED gold ratings. The firm also designed Arterra, the first LEED silver condominium high-rise in San Francisco. Kwan Henmi’s list of projects for other clientele includes the Moscone West Convention Center, the Paramount residential highrise, and the Field Club of AT&T Park, a 1 million square foot interior space.
Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects
Address:
1022 Natoma Street #3, San Francisco, CA 94103
Stanley Saitowitz is a world-renowned designer with over 30 years of experience in the Bay Area. His single-family residence and large scale urban and institutional projects have been recognized with both local and international awards. Saitowitz is a Johannesburg native, who founded Stanley Saitowitz | Natoma Architects Inc. based in San Francisco. Along with Neil Kaye, a licensed architect, the firm has completed commercial, institutional, and residential projects around the world. Saitowitz shares his design talents as an Emeritus Professor and lecturer of Architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Cornell University, and the University of Texas at Austin, among others. He was a finalist for the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt National Design Award given by Laura Bush at the White House.
Saitowitz’s experience designing local and international structures has brought the firm a handful of diverse projects and distinctions. Perhaps his best-known work in San Francisco is the Congregation Beth Sholom Synagogue in the Richmond District at the intersection of Park Presidio and Clement Street. Saitowitz’s abstract design incorporates Jewish tradition and symbols and uses light in a unique manner. This design has been recognized with international awards and admiration, including the High Commendation Award, Religion & Contemplation at the 2008 World Architecture Festival, and the 2009 Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick Prize. It was also the recipient of an Honor Award in Architecture from the San Francisco chapter of the AIA. Saitowitz’s design focus on space and time can also be seen in San Francisco at the multi-unit housing complexes Yerba Buena Lofts, 8 Octavia, and 2146 3rd Street.
Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects
Address:
677 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
William Leddy, Marsha Maytum, and Richard Stacy are the powerhouse trio leading Leddy Maytum Stacy Architects. The firm has built its blue-ribbon reputation for its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible designs with over a dozen apartment complexes in the city for budget-conscious residents. In 2019, the San Francisco Business Times named LMSA as one of the Largest Bay Area Architecture Firms. Operated by three principals, this top tier practice has spent over 3 decades committed to making positive change through the built environment in the Bay Area. Leddy, FAIA, LEED AP is a University of Oregon graduate who has been mastering his craft since 1980 after becoming a registered architect. He shares his wealth of experience not only with the LMSA team, but also with young minds as he taught at the University of Oregon, Eugene, and California College of the Arts. Meanwhile, Maytum, FAIA, LEED AP is an established leader whose excellence has been documented by publications like the Architect Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, and Builder Online. She has led some of the firm’s most notable projects including the San Francisco Art Institute at Fort Mason, North Beach Branch Library, and Commonwealth Club of California to name a few. Maytum studied architecture at the Royal Academy in Denmark and earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon. And Stacy, FAIA is a member of the United States Green Building Council, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research, Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California and San Francisco Housing Action Coalition. He earned his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Architecture from Rice University.
LMSA has completed a number of projects for its list of diverse clientele from non-profit social justice to educational and environmental organizations across the Bay Area. One of its projects is the North Beach Branch Library to serve as a meeting place for the urban community. It earned the LEED Gold rating, an AIA San Francisco Merit Award, and was featured in Architect Magazine. LMSA is known for its housing projects that incorporate social interaction and services into modern design. The Plaza Apartments at Sixth and Howard Streets, a joint project with Paulett Taggart Architects, was San Francisco’s first permanent housing for the formerly homeless. Plaza Apartments has won regional and national awards including the Housing Award, Affordable Green Housing Award, and the Honor Award for Architecture from AIA National. It was also recognized with the Home of the Year Award from Architecture Magazine.
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ)
Address:
49 Geary Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94108
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson (BCJ) was originally established as Bohlin and Powell in 1965. Founding principal, Peter Bohlin, is a recipient of more than 540 regional and national awards. His exceptional eye for design has been a staple in the San Francisco scene. His lifetime contributions to architecture have been recognized with the AIA Gold Medal, the highest honor an individual architect can receive. Together with his team, the firm has designed award-winning and environmentally responsible civic and commercial projects across San Francisco. A few of its notable projects include Bill Gate’s Washington state residence and the iconic 5th Avenue Apple store in New York City. Throughout the years, BCJ has received more than 625 regional, national, and international design awards, including the 2019 AIA Institute Honor Award, the 2019 AIA Tri-State Honor Award, and the AIA Colorado Award of Distinction to name a few. Bohlin’s commitment to energy efficiency and sustainable design has earned BCJ three Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Project awards from the AIA.
BCJ’s recent design of Square Inc.’s 150,000-square-foot headquarters on Market Street in San Francisco incorporated the company’s values into the design. It uses modern and functional elements to create a space reflective of a flexible and collaborative working environment. The fresh concept received 2016 Best of Design Award for Interior, Workplace by The Architect’s Newspaper. BCJ’s other contributions to the Bay Area include the design of the San Francisco Financial Services Center, numerous Blue Bottle Coffee locations and a new home for Adobe Systems. Located in a LEED-EB Platinum-certified building, the design for Abode Systems creates an innovative workspace and restored the 1905 Baker & Hamilton building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Recently, BCJ’s design of the 11,900-square-foot Stanford Apple Store earned a Merit Award.
Jensen Architects
Address:
833 Market St, Fl 7th, San Francisco, California
Mark Jensen is the architect behind some of San Francisco’s most iconic locations, including at Fort Mason Center, Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion, and SFMOMA. Prior to starting his own firm, Jensen worked with world-renowned architects Superstudio, Jim Jennings, and Mark Mack. Jensen’s experiences working in the US and Italy have shaped the design personality that he shares with the world. He founded Jensen Architects with a focus on bringing together novel design and the newest innovations in sustainability and energy efficiency. In addition, the firm’s style puts an emphasis on combining culture and construction. Under Jensen’s management, the firm has received numerous design awards as well as press features in both local and national publications.
The Bay Area is a prime spot for Jensen Architects’ impeccable work. He made his mark at the Fort Mason Center by transforming a former waterfront military machine shop into an art exhibition and event space. Jensen also stripped and re-designed two floors of a downtown San Francisco office building to create the new headquarters for Goodby Silverstein & Partners. Jensen Architects received a 2015 Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick award from the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco for their work at the Golden Gate Bridge Pavilion. This annual award is given in recognition of the best new building by a small firm in San Francisco. Jensen’s firm also won a design contest for a new rooftop sculpture garden at SFMOMA, beating top firms from around the country. Jensen is also responsible for the designs of the California College of the Arts Graduate Center and the transformation of an old industrial building into a gallery and event venue at 1275 Minnesota Street.
WRNS Studio
Address:
501 Second Street, Fourth Floor, Suite 402, San Francisco, CA 94107
John Ruffo, FAIA, WRNS Studio’s founding partner, has over 37 years of experience working in San Francisco’s architecture scene. His designs can be seen in many of the Bay Area’s top scientific and educational institutions. Under his direction, WRNS Studio was named the number one architecture firm in the country in 2013 by Architect Magazine. The firm specializes in architectural designs for education, healthcare, transportation, and civic projects that integrate sustainable design elements. Its impressive list of work has been recognized with many industry awards including the 2020 Acterra Award for Sustainability, 2019 AIA San Francisco Community Alliance Awards, and the 2019 IIDA Northern California Honor Awards among others.
WRNS Studio is committed to contributing his expertise to the social fabric of San Francisco. Recently, the firm completed the Welch Road Translational Research Campus at Stanford University School of Medicine, the Recreation and Aquatics Center at California Maritime Academy, the Recreation Wellness Center at SFSU, and the Student Health and Wellness Center at UC Davis. WRNS Studio also recently completed work on Boeddeker Park, a Sustainable Sites Initiative participant. This redesign of the 1-acre park and clubhouse was done with community needs in mind and won an AIA San Francisco Honor Award.
SOM (Skidmore Owings & Merrill)
Awards:
AIA Awards for Environmental Sustainability,
National AIA Honor Awards,
Federal Design Achievement Award,
Presidential Design Awards Program
Address:
One Front Street, Suite 2400, San Francisco, CA 94111
Skidmore Owings & Merill is an architectural firm is composed of architects, designers, engineers, and planners working towards building a better future one design at a time. Craig Hartman, FAIA is SOM’s Senior Consulting Design Partner in the San Francisco office since 1990. He is responsible for making it one of the West Coast’s top architectural firms. His work has been recognized with nearly 200 awards for design. Hartman first joined SOM’s Chicago office in 1973 and served as a design partner in the firm’s Houston and Washington, D.C., offices. SOM’s work demonstrates innovation and a multi-disciplinary understanding of space, climate, and architecture. Under Hartman’s leader, the firm has received countless recognitions for its forward-thinking designs incorporating sustainability and modern practices.
Skidmore Owings & Merrill is responsible for many iconic and sustainable designs around the Bay Area. the firm’s work is on display to travelers visiting the area, including the International Terminal at SFO. The firm is also behind the master plans for the revamps of Treasure Island and Park Merced. The design for Park Merced, a 1950’s housing development, will nearly triple the population, increase access to public transport, and incorporate a major organic farm and ample bike and pedestrian traffic ways. One of its most recognizable projects is the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland. For this project, Pope Benedictus XVI bestowed upon Hartman the Vatican’s Knighthood for Service to Society (St. Sylvester) in September 2008.
Mark Cavagnero Associates Architects
Address:
1045 Sansome Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94111
Cavagnero’s success has been recognized by top awards from the AIA, SF Chamber of Commerce, California Preservation Foundation, and many of the region’s cultural and civic organizations. And he is one of just 16 recipients of the AIA California Council Maybeck Award for lifetime achievement.
Mark Cavagnero co-founded San Francisco-based Barnes and Cavagnero (later renamed Mark Cavagnero Associates) in 1988 with a focus on cultural, education, and civic projects. Now a famous architect with projects around the world, Cavagnero began his career in the New York office of Edward Larrabee Barnes Associates. For his contribution to architecture and society, the AIA has recognized Cavagnero as a Fellow. And in 2015, Cavagnero joined an elite group of 16 professionals recognized with the AIA California Council Maybeck Award. This lifetime achievement award is the highest honor in California architecture. He is also the recipient of the Cyril Award from the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and a Special Commendation Award from the AIA California Council. Cavagnero earned his Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, and Master of Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley.
Mark Cavagnero has managed projects for many of San Francisco’s premier civic, education, and arts institutions. Mark Cavagnero’s latest project, the Transbay Tower, in collaboration with Italian architect Renzo Piano, is just one of his many contributions to San Francisco. His design of the three-story, transparent SFJAZZ Center earned a 2013 Excellence in Architecture Honor Award from AIA San Francisco. The Sava Pool Facility, with Paulett Taggart Architects, earned many awards, including the AIA San Francisco Excellence in Design Award and the Kirby Ward Fitzpatrick Prize for Best New Building in San Francisco from the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco. His renovation of a historic 1920’s building in the South End Historic District of South Beach for Chronicle Books‘ new corporate headquarters earned the 2009 National AIA Honor Award. Cavagnero was also behind the award-winning California Palace of the Legion of Honor, the restoration of the historic Moorish Art Deco Brava Theater Center, the Diane B. Wilsey Center for Opera, the San Francisco Civic Center Courthouse, San Francisco Public Safety Campus, and the Moscone Convention Center. His talents have also been lent to eateries around the city, including MC2 Restaurant, and Zero Degrees Café.
Other projects the firm has done include Salesforce Global, UCSF Joan & Sanford I. Weill Neurosciences Building, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, San Francisco State University BECA Building, and the US State Department Embassies in the Port of Spain and in Talinn, Estonia.
OMA
Address:
180 Varick Street, Suite 1328, New York, NY
Dutch architect and founding partner of OMA, Rem Koolhaas, is widely acknowledged as an international architectural theorist and urbanist. Before starting OMA in 1975, Koolhaas studied architecture at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, Cornell University, and the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies in New York City. He is a Professor in the Practice of Architecture and Urban Design at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University. It is no surprise that he was chosen to design the new 550-foot residential tower in San Francisco on Folsom. He is the recipient of many national and international awards, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2000. OMA has offices in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and Asia. The firm has been honored to design award-winning buildings around the world.
Rem Koolhaas’ OMA in New York was chosen by San Francisco’s Office of Community Investment and Infrastructure to design a 550-foot residential tower on Folsom Street. This building, between First and Fremont streets, will be a mix of condominiums and rental apartments, over 25% of which will be affordable units. Koolhaas is perhaps best known in the Bay Area for his unique design of the 10-story Prada store near Union Square, which featured 8,000 portholes instead of windows. Although this project never came to fruition due to Prada’s financial struggles, the design received accolades from around the world.
Foster + Partners
Address:
1000 Sansome Street, Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111
Foster + Partners is one of the most influential architectural design firms in the world. The London-based firm is regarded as one of the top design and architecture firms in the world. Led by its Chairman, Norman Foster, who founded the firm in 1967, it has built award-winning buildings on six continents and has expertise in a wide range of projects, from urban master plans and innovative workplaces to cultural landmarks and residential projects. The firm’s integrated architectural and engineering teams bring together a people-centred approach, underpinned by sustainability and innovation to their projects. Foster + Partners has won several national and international awards, including the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Stirling Prize three times.
Foster + Partners has worked on the 71-hectare Apple Park – the new Apple headquarters in California that places people at its heart, creating an ideal workplace for continued creativity, innovation and wellbeing. The practice has also previously worked on two state-of-the-art research buildings for Stanford University – Center for Clinical Science Research and James H. Clark Center. Looking forward, Foster + Partners will change the San Francisco skyline with the Oceanwide Center, a collaboration with local firm Heller Manus Architects. At 2 million square feet, this project will add two mixed-use skyscrapers to the Transbay Area of San Francisco, close to the Market and the financial district. At 850 feet tall, the mixed-use hotel, residential and office tower will be the tallest residential project on the West Coast. Foster + Partners also designed Apple’s new retail store in the Union Square neighborhood. This building is powered by 100 percent renewable energy and integrates photovoltaic solar panels into the roof. It features a 6K-resolution video wall, a 50-foot-tall green wall in an art-filled plaza, and 42-foot tall sliding glass doors.
Snøhetta
Awards:
Global Award for Sustainable Architecture
Address:
236 8th St., Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94103
Snøhetta is a world-renowned architectural practice making a permanent mark on San Francisco’s beautiful skyline. Kjetil Trædal Thorsen and Craig Dykers founded Snøhetta in 1989. The firm began its operation in Oslo but later expanded its services to the US, Asia, Australia, and other parts of Europe. For over 25 years, the practice has designed award-winning cultural and public spaces around the world. Its most notable buildings include the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet in Oslo and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Library of Alexandria) in Egypt. Both of these projects were recognized with the World Architecture Award. Not only is the practice responsible for the recently completed SFMOMA remodel, but it will add to the city’s skyline with the One Van Ness Tower and is responsible for designing the new stadium for the Golden State Warriors.
Snøhetta won the contract for an extensive expansion of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which was completed in 2016. The remodel more than doubled the museum’s gallery spaces and its design included almost six times as much public space as the previous building and grounds. Snøhetta is collaborating with SCB on the One Van Ness tower, a new 400-foot tower due to be completed in 2019. And Snøhetta is currently designing plans for the Golden State Warriors’ new stadium. In addition to their commercial work, Snøhetta is also achieved in residential design. The practice was most recently hired to renovated a 1907 Dutch Colonial Revival at 2950 Pacific Avenue, a home briefly owned by Zynga founder Mark Pincus.
Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects
Address:
1056 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06510
Argentinian born, American César Pelli is one of the world’s most prolific architects known for designing many of the world’s tallest buildings. Clarke is the main designer of the Salesforce Tower, which upon completion in 2017 will be San Francisco’s tallest building, at 1,070 feet. Pelli is also behind the designs for the city’s Transbay Transit Center, which will revolutionize Bay Area transit. Among his many awards are the AIA Gold Medal and The Lynn S. Beedle Lifetime Achievement Award. Pelli earned a Diploma in Architecture at the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán and completed his studies at the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects (CPA), now one of the world’s most recognizable design firms. Pelli has received twelve Honorary Degrees for his superior skill and over 200 awards for excellence in design and architecture.
César Pelli’s upcoming work on the Salesforce Tower will define San Francisco’s skyline. At 1,070 feet tall, the tower will be the highest in the city upon completion. Pelli’s superior design incorporates the newest sustainable practices, neighborhood development, and financial feasibility. CPA is also behind the Transbay Transit Center at the base of the Salesforce Tower. The Center is a $4.5 billion project dubbed the “Grand Central Station of the West.” Upon completion, it will be the main transit hub of the Bay Area and feature a 5.4-acre public park on the roof. Perhaps Pelli’s most recognizable work to date in San Francisco is the 2002 JPMorgan Chase Building on the border between South of Market and the Financial District.
Renzo Piano Building Workshop
Address:
827 Washington ST, New York, NY 10014
Renzo Piano founded the Renzo Piano Building Workshop (RPW) in 1981. The architectural practice has offices in Paris, Genoa, and New York. The firm is adding to the already iconic San Francisco skyline with the upcoming Transbay Tower. A world-famous architect, Piano is the recipient of many of architecture’s top honors, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Piano previously contributed his talent to the city of San Francisco with the multi-award winning California Academy of Sciences building. Under his direction, RPW has successfully completed over 120 projects across Europe, North America, Australasia, and East Asia. Piano was honored with the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1998 for his demonstrated talent, commitment, and vision and consistent contributions to humanity and the built environment. And in September 2013, he was appointed senator for life by then Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
Renzo Piano is set to make a permanent mark on San Francisco with the Transbay Tower. A joint project with Mark Cavagnero Associates, this mixed-use tower will rise 37 stories at 555 Howard Street. Work on this iconic project is set to begin in 2018. The Transbay Tower is not Piano’s first major contribution to the Bay Area. He previously designed the California Academy of Sciences building in collaboration with Arup and Stantec. His design for this LEED Platinum building was awarded the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Award for Excellence for the Americas region in 2008, the 2005 Holcim Award Silver for sustainable construction projects in the North America region and received an Honor Award in Architecture from the San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
