Project Description
FROM THE ARCHITECTS:
The proposed project is located at 555 Howard Street, between 1st and 2nd Streets.
The building is anticipated to be 385’ in height, with 36 stories above ground and 4 levels below grade, and approximately 358,000 square feet of program area.
The scale of the proposed building is modest, in comparison with current and proposed future high rises nearby, and anchored by the elevated bus ramp on the west servicing the future Transbay Transit Center. In response, the proposed tower is a careful study on proportion and lightness, with the overall tower massing divided visually into 3 slender extrusions by connecting voids that are highly transparent. The overarching language for the façade is designed as to be intelligent, and sustainable, a reflection of the ambitious LEED Platinum target. It is composed of a series of transparent glass layers that provide a nice articulation and vibration to the building.
The lower half of the tower is planned to be a luxury hotel. Hotel and ground floor restaurant entrances are from Howard Street. The upper portion of the contains luxury condominiums, with a dedicated entrance off Tehama Street. Given the close proximity to the elevated bus ramp, it was important for the design solution to maximize natural light at the bottom of the tower. Making the lower floors highly transparent and inviting to the public allows for enhanced indoor/outdoor connectivity, as well as permeability to the proposed public park under the bus ramp. The ground floor has been designed to be a lively urban space, not take possession of the space but visually leave it to the city and let the street encroach. This means recognizing the civic value of a place for people, making the space transparent and accessible.
Additionally, the public is encouraged to visit the park like roof top open space and enjoy the view, again a piece of the city, but in this case elevated to create a mental and physical suspension from the street level, with a café and an enclosed bar on the floor below. The roof top space is protected by 20’ tall glass wind screens and mature, dense trees to ensure comfort for all visitors.
One of the most important reasons for the architect’s work, is the idea to not create buildings indifferent to the city, but meeting places where people will gather.