This July, a proposal for a new skyscraper that would completely change the SF skyline was revealed. The building would be a 1,225-foot tower, making it the tallest in San Francisco and on the West Coast.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the proposal came from real estate development firm Hines, and the tower would include over 1 million square feet of office space. The proposed building would be at 77 Beale Street, the former Pacific Gas and Electric headquarters. The new building would be 15 stories higher than Salesforce Tower, making it an undeniable landmark on the SF skyline. The tower would also be the 11th tallest in the United States, falling below only buildings in New York and Chicago.
Mayor Daniel Laurie showed support for the proposal in a recent tweet, saying, “And this is not just about one building. This plan would transform a vacant city block into a dynamic mix of housing, office space, retail, and public space by developing the former PG&E and Matson headquarters. This shows what’s possible when people believe in our city’s future. Let’s go, San Francisco.”
The new building would also restore two buildings on Market Street, both of which are registered as historic places. The project comes only a few years after Salesforce Tower was completed in 2018, surpassing the Trans America Pyramid and making it the tallest building in the city. The new building will be just a few blocks from Salesforce Tower and Salesforce Park.
The proposal comes as reports of office vacancy in Downtown SF continue, although there have also been ongoing efforts to revive the area with free public events and even programs encouraging local businesses to open storefronts downtown. For now, the project is still just a proposal, but it could be the start of a significant change to SF’s skyline.