A new 500-foot observation tower from Bjarke Ingels Group could grace San Diego’s waterfront Central Embarcadero in the near future… if it passes an environmental review and is approved by the California Coastal Commission.
If built, the observation tower would be like nothing else that currently exists along California’s coast, thanks to the 1976 Coastal Act that puts a 30-foot height restriction on most of the state’s coastal zones. But, as The San Diego Union-Trubune reports, Downtown San Diego is exempt from that restriction.
The tower is designed as a stack of spinning discs that appear differently at varying vantage points and elevations. At the base, the tower will include retail, food options, and a hotel.
See Also: Bjarke Ingels Group creates 66 homes for low-income citizens in Copenhagen
At the tower’s peak, exhibits will be spread across several floors to encourage the public to explore all the space has to offer. Possibilities include a butterfly exhibit, a suspended net for climbing, a wind garden with sustainable technology exhibits, an outdoor auditorium, and a 170,000-sf vertical aquarium that would span the length of the tower and resemble the varying depths of the ocean. The developer, 1HWY1, describes the concept as a “learning laboratory in the sky.”
But unless this radical design gains the approval it needs, the tower may never be more than a 500-foot-tall quixotic dream.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jul 14, 2016
New San Francisco mixed-use tower billed as most earthquake-resistant building on the West Coast
A megabrace is a key seismic component at 181 Fremont, with offices, residences, and retail space.
High-rise Construction | Jul 14, 2016
Shigeru Ban designs tower expected to be world’s tallest hybrid timber structure
To lessen the carbon footprint, Terrace House in Vancouver will be made of wood sourced from British Columbia.
High-rise Construction | Jul 12, 2016
Three-tiered, 57-story high-rise development from Arquitectonica coming to Miami
The structure will be the tallest building in the Edgewater District
Office Buildings | Jul 11, 2016
CetraRuddy designs office tower for Manhattan’s Meatpacking district
Plans originally called for a hotel, but the architect and developers adapted their design for commercial use.
Contractors | Jul 4, 2016
A new report links infrastructure investment to commercial real estate expansion
Competitiveness and economic development are at stake for cities, says Transwestern.
High-rise Construction | Jun 29, 2016
Best Tall Buildings around the world favor unusual shapes and hybrid functions
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat selects winners in four regions.
High-rise Construction | Jun 28, 2016
CTBUH names winners and finalists for 2016 Tall Building Awards
Eight winners were named in five categories that recognized tall buildings, urban habitats, innovation, performance, and decade-long excellence.
High-rise Construction | Jun 15, 2016
WilkinsonEyre designs diamond-patterned Bay Park Centre for Toronto
A sloping plaza with trees, grass, and gardens connects the two downtown towers.
Sponsored | High-rise Construction | Jun 13, 2016
Marilyn Monroe’ tower adds curves to the Toronto skyline
Made of glass, concrete, and steel, the 56-story tower has been dubbed the "Marilyn Monroe" because of its curving lines.
High-rise Construction | Jun 7, 2016
Gensler’s Gateway Tower picks up where Calatrava's Chicago Spire left off
A new 2,000-foot tower has been proposed for a site that is currently a non-monument to an abandoned plan.