Location: San Francisco, California

Rincon Center is a mixed-use urban project at the heart of San Francisco’s downtown. One block from the Bay, the complex occupies a full city block, incorporating the historic Rincon Postal Annex. The project comprises both the adaptive reuse of the existing Annex, public lobbies, food court, retail gallery, and office space, as well as the design for new construction of an outdoor plaza, ground level retail and restaurants, mid-rise office space, and two residential towers with 160 units each. A primary design goal was to establish a clear circulation hierarchy, which provides a natural procession from each element to the next. Rincon Center’s primary movement diagram is cruciform in plan. This system allows penetration into the complex at each perimeter street, separates new and existing construction, and coheres the entire project. The new construction to the rear of the historic Annex is designed as an articulated concrete shell with a natural stone base, window configurations and cornices to complement the rhythms and finishes of the existing landmark. The two residential towers above are outwardly curved to create shared rather than competing views, and to orient the units to the Bay.