The developer of 181 Fremont, a 70-story residential and office tower being built in San Francisco, claims this will be the most earthquake-resistant building on the West Coast when it is completed in the summer of 2017.
Jay Paul Company acquired this development from SKS Investments in 2013, and estimates its cost at $665 million. The Class A building will include 432,000 sf of office space, 67 luxury condos on its top 17 floors, and 3,000 sf of retail space.
The building’s architecture (by Heller Manus), residential interior design (by Orlando Diaz-Azcuy) and engineering (by Arup) revolve around a unique megabrace that, according to the developer, would virtually eliminate structural damage from a significant (i.e., 500-year) earthquake. Jay Paul also believes this design could set new standards for earthquake resilience for urban development.
The resilience-based design focuses on saving lives and minimizing structural damage, property loss, and protection of the building’s MEP systems. The building features a sawtooth curtainwall, passive solar energy, and a water-recycling system. It’s the only residential tower in San Francisco to be pre-certified LEED Platinum.
“The seismic design is consistent with our approach to position 181 Fremont as the preeminent tower in San Francisco in every aspect of design and development,” said Matt Lituchy, CIO of Jay Paul Company.
181 Fremont’s calling card is its claim that a seismic event wouldn’t disrupt the building’s business continuity. Occupants and businesses would be able to return to the tower with complete access to business operations, and the building would be fully functional again, within one month. The elevator systems are also designed for continuous operation during a catastrophic event, with contingencies for emergency evacuations.
The tower is adjacent to the new Transbay Transit Center.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016
Renzo Piano's curved glass tower planned for NY's Soho neighborhood
The 25-story tower is a residential building with 115 apartments and plenty of amenities.
High-rise Construction | Jan 11, 2016
World’s second-tallest building (for now) is completed in China
Shanghai Tower makes up a trio of supertall buildings in that city’s commercial district.
High-rise Construction | Jan 7, 2016
Zaha Hadid designs a tower of 'stacked vases' in Melbourne
The structure is supported by sets of curved columns that taper to four different base heights.
High-rise Construction | Jan 4, 2016
Top high-rise innovations of 2015
A crowdfunded skyscraper in Colombia and Jerusalem’s wild, pyramid-shaped tower are among the landmark projects featured in the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s annual yearend review.
High-rise Construction | Jan 4, 2016
Top tall building predictions for 2016
Jetpack-based firefighting, pixelated towers, and high-rise rentals are among the innovations and themes coming to the tall buildings market in 2016, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
High-rise Construction | Jan 4, 2016
Amid high-rise office building boom, Boston grapples with corporate signage rules
City has few skyscrapers adorned with lit company names, logos.
High-rise Construction | Dec 18, 2015
Architect Mark Foster Gage proposes wildly ornate Gothic skyscraper for NYC
The 102-story tower, 41 West 57th Street, will have glass walls, balconies, and a carved stone façade.
High-rise Construction | Dec 8, 2015
Architect Eric Parry unveils design for London’s tallest building
At more than 1,000 feet, 1 Undershaft will rival The Shard in height.
High-rise Construction | Dec 8, 2015
Saudi Arabia secures funding for world’s first kilometer-tall skyscraper: Jeddah Tower
The tower will overtake the Burj Khalifa in terms of height, but how long will it remain king?
High-rise Construction | Nov 28, 2015
Anorexic skyscrapers keep popping up in Manhattan
One project slated to begin construction next spring is designed to be only 47 feet wide.
