Oceanwide Center, San Francisco

The taller tower, located at 50 First Street, is expected to rise 905 feet (276 m) and contain 34 stories (1,010,000 square feet (94,000 m²)) of office space below 19 floors with approximately 111 residential units.[3] The base of the tower includes a six-story tall, outdoor "urban room" of public open space.[6] The tower will feature diagonal, exterior bracing and taper towards the top, reminiscent of the John Hancock Center in Chicago.[7] If completed as proposed, the 905-foot (276 m) tower would become San Francisco's second-tallest building after Salesforce Tower, surpassing the long time record-holder, the Transamerica Pyramid.

The shorter tower, at 512 Mission Street, is planned to climb 605 feet (184 m) and will contain the 169-room Waldorf Astoria San Francisco hotel on the first 21 floors[8] and approximately 154 residential units on the upper 33 floors.[3][9]

The parcels around 50 First Street were upzoned as part of the Transit Center District Plan approved in 2012 in conjunction with the new Transbay Transit Center.[10] The parcels were originally assembled by developer David Choo and a plan was floated in 2007 for towers as tall as 1,200 feet (370 m) designed by Renzo Piano.[11] Choo was eventually forced to sell the property during the 2008 financial crisis.[12]

In 2013, TMG Partners and Northwood Investors acquired the property out of bankruptcy court for US$122 million.[13] TMG and Northwood hired Foster + Partners and Heller Manus Architects to re-design the project.[14] In 2015, Beijing-based Oceanwide Holdings acquired the property for US$296 million.[15][16] A groundbreaking ceremony for the buildings was held on December 8, 2016.[17][18]

• List of tallest buildings in San Francisco

• Oceanwide Center - Foster + Partners