Salesforce Tower

Salesforce Tower
Name	Salesforce Tower
Former names	415 Mission Street (planning)
Status	Complete
Location	San Francisco, California, United States
Completion date	2018
Architect	Pelli Clarke & Partners
Owner	Hines Interests, Boston Properties, and Salesforce
Floor count	61
Height	1,070 ft (326 m) (antenna spire)
Architectural style	Modern
Main contractor	Clark/Turner JV

Salesforce Tower Salesforce Tower is a skyscraper in San Francisco that serves as a prominent office and mixed-use high-rise in the Financial District, San Francisco and South of Market, San Francisco neighborhoods. It was developed through collaborations among Salesforce, Boston Properties, and Hines Interests LP and designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners with construction led by a joint venture of Clark Construction Group and Turner Construction. The building's completion in 2018 contributed to the skyline alongside structures such as Transamerica Pyramid, 555 California Street, One Rincon Hill, and influenced planning debates involving San Francisco Planning Department and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

History

The project's origins trace to development proposals by Boston Properties and financing negotiations with institutional investors including Hines Interests LP and pension funds linked to CalPERS and TIAA amid San Francisco's tech-driven office boom featuring tenants such as Salesforce, Twitter, Uber Technologies, and Airbnb. Early approvals involved hearings before the San Francisco Planning Commission and appeals to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, intersecting with zoning frameworks overseen by the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection and legal challenges referencing municipal review processes used in cases like Transbay Transit Center planning. Groundbreaking ceremonies acknowledged political figures from Mayor Ed Lee's administration and economic development entities such as San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. Financing closed as part of broader real estate cycles alongside sales of assets by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and capital moves observed in markets like Silicon Valley and New York City.

Architecture and design

Pelli Clarke & Partners produced a tapering cylinder form that responds to precedents by firms such as Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and architects like I. M. Pei and Philip Johnson, while interior planning referenced workplace trends championed by Salesforce and consultants from Gensler and HGA Architects. The facade employs a curtain wall system engineered with suppliers including Permasteelisa Group and glazing specialists with performance criteria used in projects like One World Trade Center and The Shard. Public art commissioning engaged curators connected to institutions such as the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, echoing cultural investments similar to those associated with SFMOMA expansions and civic artworks funded by programs like the San Francisco Arts Commission.

Construction and engineering

Construction required complex foundation work adjacent to infrastructure projects such as the Transbay Transit Center and coordination with utility providers including PG&E and agencies like Caltrans for seismic retrofitting considerations. Engineering teams from firms such as Arup and Thornton Tomasetti addressed wind loading, tuned mass damper options seen in Taipei 101, and structural systems comparable to those used by Kohn Pedersen Fox projects. The permit process involved the San Francisco Building Inspection and compliance with codes influenced by events like the Loma Prieta earthquake and standards from organizations such as the International Code Council and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing contractors coordinated elevator systems from manufacturers like Otis Worldwide or KONE to serve 61 floors, drawing on vertical transportation research tied to projects like Burj Khalifa.

Usage and tenants

Primary occupancy centers on corporate headquarters, occupied largely by Salesforce alongside satellite offices for firms in technology, finance, and professional services such as Perkins Coie, KPMG, DLA Piper, and startups spun out of incubators like Y Combinator and accelerators similar to 500 Startups. Amenity spaces mirror hospitality models influenced by operators like Ace Hotel and retail planning frameworks employed by developers including Hines Interests and Boston Properties, with ground-level activation connecting to transit hubs such as the Salesforce Transit Center and nearby stations served by Muni Metro, BART, and shuttle operators used by companies like Google and Facebook. Event programming, leasing management, and corporate art installations involve partnerships with local institutions including SFJazz and Curran Theatre.

Reception and impact

The tower's reception among urbanists, critics, and community groups referenced debates raised by commentators from outlets like the San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Times, The Guardian, and architecture critics associated with Architectural Record. Supporters cited job creation linked to firms such as Salesforce and economic multipliers studied by organizations like SPUR (San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association), while opponents raised concerns paralleling controversies surrounding Amazon HQ2 and housing pressures highlighted by Association of Bay Area Governments reports. The skyline addition prompted tourism commentary comparing views to those from Coit Tower and Twin Peaks and sparked discussions in municipal forums led by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and advocacy groups like Coalition on Homelessness.

Sustainability and certifications

Sustainability features were pursued to achieve certifications comparable to LEED standards administered by the U.S. Green Building Council and performance metrics considered by organizations such as WELL Building Standard and Energy Star. Systems included high-efficiency HVAC, water reuse strategies modeled after projects certified through California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen), and energy management tools provided by technology vendors similar to those used by Siemens and Schneider Electric. Waste diversion and occupant health programs coordinated with municipal initiatives like the San Francisco Department of the Environment and industry frameworks promoted by groups such as the Urban Land Institute.

Category:Skyscrapers in San Francisco Category:Office buildings completed in 2018