scorecardPhotos show how San Francisco's new buildings built in the last decade have permanently changed the city
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  4. Photos show how San Francisco's new buildings built in the last decade have permanently changed the city

Photos show how San Francisco's new buildings built in the last decade have permanently changed the city

It's difficult not to start off with San Francisco's $1 billion Salesforce Tower. The imposing tower makes quite a statement in the skyline.

Photos show how San Francisco's new buildings built in the last decade have permanently changed the city

Construction on the tower in the heart of downtown commenced in 2013.

Construction on the tower in the heart of downtown commenced in 2013.

When it was finished in 2017, it beat San Francisco's beloved Transamerica Pyramid Building as the tallest building in the city.

When it was finished in 2017, it beat San Francisco

It was originally named Transbay Tower, after the neighborhood's name at the time, but cloud computing giant Salesforce bought the naming rights as part of a real estate deal with developer Boston Properties.

It was originally named Transbay Tower, after the neighborhood

The company will pay nearly $560 million over the course of 15 years to lease 30 floors in the building, which will serve as the 20-year-old company's global headquarters.

The company will pay nearly $560 million over the course of 15 years to lease 30 floors in the building, which will serve as the 20-year-old company

CEO Marc Benioff's decision to plant the company's "vertical village" in San Francisco was unusual compared to other tech giants at the time building campuses in the valley south of the city.

CEO Marc Benioff

Source: LA Times

Silicon Valley proper’s long-time players, like Facebook and Google, have since expanded with offices in the heart of San Francisco, not far away from Salesforce Tower.

Silicon Valley proper’s long-time players, like Facebook and Google, have since expanded with offices in the heart of San Francisco, not far away from Salesforce Tower.

But back then, Twitter and Uber were among the only big tech companies with HQ's in the city. Neither of them, however, have quite the same presence that Salesforce's tower does.

But back then, Twitter and Uber were among the only big tech companies with HQ

An LED light installation wraps the crown of the tower, though what is displayed on it nightly is always somewhat difficult to make out.

An LED light installation wraps the crown of the tower, though what is displayed on it nightly is always somewhat difficult to make out.

But the company did appease the masses on Halloween 2018, when an online petition begged Benioff to turn the light display into the eye of Sauron from "The Lord of the Rings."

But the company did appease the masses on Halloween 2018, when an online petition begged Benioff to turn the light display into the eye of Sauron from "The Lord of the Rings."

On the other hand, some have compared the tower in less favorable terms. As The New York Times wrote, "the tower is not beautiful, but is impossible to ignore."

On the other hand, some have compared the tower in less favorable terms. As The New York Times wrote, "the tower is not beautiful, but is impossible to ignore."

But, as Curbed writes, the city was also not in favor of the Transamerica Pyramid when it was built in 1972. And now it's one of the most iconic sights in San Francisco. So there's hope for Salesforce Tower.

But, as Curbed writes, the city was also not in favor of the Transamerica Pyramid when it was built in 1972. And now it

Source: Curbed SF

The high-rise was built alongside what was once the original Transbay Terminal.

The high-rise was built alongside what was once the original Transbay Terminal.

It's since been demolished, and in its place is a new, $2.2 billion transportation hub, originally christened Transbay Terminal until Salesforce bought the naming rights. It was a project almost two decades in the making.

It

The Salesforce Transit Center was designed to serve as a more centralized location for local transportation, where commuters from the East Bay, the valley, and beyond could easily zip into the city's downtown area.

The Salesforce Transit Center was designed to serve as a more centralized location for local transportation, where commuters from the East Bay, the valley, and beyond could easily zip into the city

The structure's white latticed encasement is one of the most recognizable sights in downtown.

The structure

It officially opened in September 2018, along with a sprawling, lush rooftop park that's open to the public, with walkways, seating areas, and some cafes.

It officially opened in September 2018, along with a sprawling, lush rooftop park that

There are eleven bus lines running through the station on a third-story level. The project included a bridge designed to more easily ferry buses in from the highway, an issue that has plagued transportation in the part of town for years.

There are eleven bus lines running through the station on a third-story level. The project included a bridge designed to more easily ferry buses in from the highway, an issue that has plagued transportation in the part of town for years.

But it hasn't been smooth sailing for the four-block-long center and its rooftop park.

But it hasn

Just six weeks after its grand opening in September 2018, workers discovered two cracked steel beams in the center’s third-floor bus deck.

Just six weeks after its grand opening in September 2018, workers discovered two cracked steel beams in the center’s third-floor bus deck.

The center, the park, and its bus lines closed while repairs and reinforcement were made to the cracked load-bearing beams.

The center, the park, and its bus lines closed while repairs and reinforcement were made to the cracked load-bearing beams.

The transit center and bus service officially reopened in July 2019. Anyone can breeze on up to the beautiful rooftop park once again.

The transit center and bus service officially reopened in July 2019. Anyone can breeze on up to the beautiful rooftop park once again.

From the rooftop park, you can see a glass high-rise encased in white beams.

From the rooftop park, you can see a glass high-rise encased in white beams.

This is the tower at 181 Fremont, whose sole commercial tenant is Facebook.

This is the tower at 181 Fremont, whose sole commercial tenant is Facebook.

The top half of the tower consists of 55 multi-million-dollar residences, including a five-bedroom $42 million penthouse.

The top half of the tower consists of 55 multi-million-dollar residences, including a five-bedroom $42 million penthouse.

The first condo sold for $15 million in August 2018, breaking the city's record for the highest-price-per-square-foot sale for a condo.

The first condo sold for $15 million in August 2018, breaking the city

Meaning that there's a market for the city's spate of ultra-luxe condo skyscrapers. And 181 Fremont is only one example of these kinds of projects.

Meaning that there

Another is the Millennium Tower, though it has had a rockier track record.

Another is the Millennium Tower, though it has had a rockier track record.

The residential tower was completed in 2009, with residents moving in starting in 2010.

The residential tower was completed in 2009, with residents moving in starting in 2010.

Source: LA Times

But in 2015, residents learned that the building had sunk 16 inches and tilted 2 inches.

But in 2015, residents learned that the building had sunk 16 inches and tilted 2 inches.

NBC Bay Area reported in July 2017 that about 50 residents said they were "stuck with nearly worthless condos."

NBC Bay Area reported in July 2017 that about 50 residents said they were "stuck with nearly worthless condos."

Source: NBC Bay Area

A messy string of lawsuits was filed, but in August 2019, the lead attorney for residents in the building told the SF Examiner that a settlement had been reached, though there aren't many public details regarding it.

A messy string of lawsuits was filed, but in August 2019, the lead attorney for residents in the building told the SF Examiner that a settlement had been reached, though there aren

Source: Curbed SF

But one solution may see the light of day — a $100 million proposal is being considered that suggests installing concrete piles that will redistribute the tower's weight to bedrock instead of its existing foundation.

But one solution may see the light of day — a $100 million proposal is being considered that suggests installing concrete piles that will redistribute the tower

Source: Curbed SF

Luxury condo high-rises and office skyscrapers aren’t the only notable additions to the city in the past decade. A bit south of downtown is San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.

Luxury condo high-rises and office skyscrapers aren’t the only notable additions to the city in the past decade. A bit south of downtown is San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood.

This part of town is home to the UCSF Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente, an Oakland-based healthcare company.

This part of town is home to the UCSF Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente, an Oakland-based healthcare company.

But it's also now where the home stadium for the Golden State Warriors is. The venue's financing is unlike others in the modern sports era in that Chase Center was funded privately.

But it

The sports team poured $1.4 billion into the Chase Center project without any financial support from the city of San Francisco. Construction broke ground in 2017.

The sports team poured $1.4 billion into the Chase Center project without any financial support from the city of San Francisco. Construction broke ground in 2017.

But that doesn't mean the Golden State Warriors will buckle under the costs — the Silicon Valley elite of the region's booming tech market will ensure they don't.

But that doesn

The team has $2 billion under contract from a cluster of founding partners, including tech giants like Adobe, Oracle, Google Cloud, Accenture, and, of course, JPMorgan Chase, which shelled out a reported $300 million to snag the naming rights to the stadium for 20 years.

The team has $2 billion under contract from a cluster of founding partners, including tech giants like Adobe, Oracle, Google Cloud, Accenture, and, of course, JPMorgan Chase, which shelled out a reported $300 million to snag the naming rights to the stadium for 20 years.

According to Reuters, the Warriors' president, Rick Welts, also said the Chase Center development would not have panned out without the revenue generated from the office space that was built as part of the project. Uber is set to occupy much of that space.

According to Reuters, the Warriors

Welts, the Warriors' president, told the media during a tour of the new arena in August 2019 that over time the Chase Center's biggest contribution to the city would be the entertainment aspect of the facilities.

Welts, the Warriors

So Chase Center will not only serve as a luxurious sports arena experience but will also host concerts and other performances.

So Chase Center will not only serve as a luxurious sports arena experience but will also host concerts and other performances.
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