Pelli Clarke Pelli Breaks Ground on the Transbay Transit Tower in San Francisco

<a href="http://pcparch.com/project/transbay-tower" target="_blank">Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects</a> just broke ground on San Francisco's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/san-franciscos-mesh-encased-transbay-tower-will-be-the-tallest-building-on-the-west-coast/" target="_blank">Transbay Transit Tower</a> - the west coast's tallest tower and the seventh tallest building in the nation! Sited right next to the city's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/san-franciscos-new-transbay-transit-center-sheds-glass-skin-to-save-10-million/" target="_blank">Transbay Transit Center</a>, the elegant 60-story tower features a high-performance facade that maximizes daylighting while minimizing heat gain. The groundbreaking ceremony recently took place with Cesar Pelli in attendance as well as the new owners <a href="http://ir.bostonproperties.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=120176&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1800781&amp;highlight=" target="_blank">Hines and Boston Properties</a>, who paid for the parcel in full.

The new 60-story tower, located at 101 First Street, will be the landmark project next to the new transit station and park.

Both of the projects were designed by <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/pelli-clarke-pelli" target="_blank">Pelli Clark Pelli</a>, which creates a seamless transition between the spaces and a unified look overall.

The exterior, much like the transit center's transparent one, also places importance on daylighting.

The facade is composed of low-emissivity glass with metal accents and integrated metal sunshades that are designed to maximize light and views while reducing solar gain.

Gently curved, the elegant tower tapers near the top reaching a height of 326 meters (1,070 feet), which just passes New York City's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-chrysler-building-earns-leed-eb-gold-certification/" target="_blank">Chrysler Building</a>.

Sustainability has always been a major component of the design and works in conjunction with the strategies in place at the transit center.

<a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/rainwater-collection">Rainwater</a> will be collected and used to minimize stormwater runoff and cooling will be in part provided via heat-exchanging coils wrapped around the tower’s foundations.

Each floor will enjoy fresh air, which will be provided by high efficiency air-handlers.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, ownership of the Transbay Transit Tower was handed over to a partnership between <a href="http://ir.bostonproperties.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=120176&amp;p=irol-newsArticle&amp;ID=1800781&amp;highlight=" target="_blank">Hines and Boston Properties</a>. The sale of the parcel, at over $191 million, will go to help pay for the public transit center, which is expected to cost $4 billion. Construction of both projects is expected to be complete in 2017.