SAN FRANCISCO | Salesforce Transit Center

[dr_strangelove]

^The current schedule has the Transbay Terminal opening in 2017 according to this:

http://transbaycenter.org/project/project-timeline

And the temporary terminal was *supposed* to open October 2009.

[fflint]

535 was felled by the larger credit crisis and not because of any specific local issue. The developer did--and still does--intend to build.

[BTinSF]

:previous: yes, and my prediction is he will do so before any dirt is turned on the Transbay Tower. But my point was and remains that the size of the tower is a lot of space in the SF market and will be especially dicy to fill if it has to compete with other projects, including 535, as it likely will. As of now we have already have 13 million square feet of empty office space (a vacancy rate of 17.7%--source = http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/04/office-vacancy-rate-hits-177-in-san.html ). It will take years of rapid economic recovery to soak it all up (and raise the rents from the mid $30s/sq ft back toward the all-time peaks of close to $100 for trophy space).

I'll make another prediction: There will be a reconsideration of the plan to build it as all-office. That may have penciled out in the boom days of 2005 through 2007 and it would be the most profitable for Hines is they can fill it, but my bet is they ultimately take the safer route of putting a hotel or condos in it to cut down the amount of vacant office space to fill.

[northbay]

I'll make another prediction: There will be a reconsideration of the plan to build it as all-office. That may have penciled out in the boom days of 2005 through 2007 and it would be the most profitable for Hines is they can fill it, but my bet is they ultimately take the safer route of putting a hotel or condos in it to cut down the amount of vacant office space to fill.

ill second that. i bet a hotel would do very well at this location.

[dr_strangelove]

:previous: yes, and my prediction is he will do so before any dirt is turned on the Transbay Tower. But my point was and remains that the size of the tower is a lot of space in the SF market and will be especially dicy to fill if it has to compete with other projects, including 535, as it likely will. As of now we have already have 13 million square feet of empty office space (a vacancy rate of 17.7%--source = http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/04/office-vacancy-rate-hits-177-in-san.html ). It will take years of rapid economic recovery to soak it all up (and raise the rents from the mid $30s/sq ft back toward the all-time peaks of close to $100 for trophy space).

I'll make another prediction: There will be a reconsideration of the plan to build it as all-office. That may have penciled out in the boom days of 2005 through 2007 and it would be the most profitable for Hines is they can fill it, but my bet is they ultimately take the safer route of putting a hotel or condos in it to cut down the amount of vacant office space to fill.

A 1000 foot condo/ apartment tower in one of the scarcest housing markets sitting on top of one of the most diverse transit junctions in the country sounds great to me, and would definitely make the area more interesting vs. a bunch of office workers.

[AndrewK]

:previous: yes, and my prediction is he will do so before any dirt is turned on the Transbay Tower. But my point was and remains that the size of the tower is a lot of space in the SF market and will be especially dicy to fill if it has to compete with other projects, including 535, as it likely will. As of now we have already have 13 million square feet of empty office space (a vacancy rate of 17.7%--source = http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2010/04/office-vacancy-rate-hits-177-in-san.html ). It will take years of rapid economic recovery to soak it all up (and raise the rents from the mid $30s/sq ft back toward the all-time peaks of close to $100 for trophy space).

I'll make another prediction: There will be a reconsideration of the plan to build it as all-office. That may have penciled out in the boom days of 2005 through 2007 and it would be the most profitable for Hines is they can fill it, but my bet is they ultimately take the safer route of putting a hotel or condos in it to cut down the amount of vacant office space to fill.

plus with the (theoretical) additions of 222 2nd and 350 mission.

[dr_strangelove]

:previous: It will take years of rapid economic recovery to soak it all up (and raise the rents from the mid $30s/sq ft back toward the all-time peaks of close to $100 for trophy space).


Some properties are presently commanding such high rents: 101 California st is advertising 1185 sq. ft. for $120+ psf.
http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/MainSite/Listing/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=14666483&SRID=868961064&StepID=101

Also, average rents are actually slightly rising, due to large high profile tenants (the rich ba$tards) competing for limited space, and the class B or class A "vanilla" tenants are finding it renter's paradise due to excess vacancy.
Since Transbay Tower will be one of the most significant new buildings in the country, and the tallest on the west coast, I'm confident it would fill up with these high priced occupants.

One last thing, I find it intriguing that 101 California is 1.2 million sq. ft. of offices and Transbay Tower would be 1.5 million, a testament to just how thin it would actually be, structurally.

[brantw]

Are they building it? What's going on?

[BTinSF]

Are they building it? What's going on?

The temporary terminal is built. They are supposed to start demolishing the old terminal this summer.

[1977]

Nighttime rendering of the terminal to be.
http://www.sfnewdevelopments.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20Night.jpg
Source:http://www.sfnewdevelopments.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/20Night.jpg

[SFView]

See Transbay Transit Center interactive here:

http://transbaycenter.org/interactive

[peanut gallery]

^That is very cool! I love that they've also included all the Rincon Hill proposals as well, plus 535 Mission.

This isn't logical but of all the new stuff in those flybys, I find the Folsom St improvements the most difficult to believe. It's such a stark change from the Folsom of today I can't really imagine it happening. So I can't envision some basic street improvements, but a 1000 footer and other highrises rising like weeds? No problem! Ha!

[SD_Phil]

See Transbay Transit Center interactive here:

http://transbaycenter.org/interactive

Very cool site.

This megaproject has been really exposing my impatience. I wish it had started as soon as the competition had been settled but it's always worth waiting for a quality project.

[BTinSF]

Very cool site.

This megaproject has been really exposing my impatience. I wish it had started as soon as the competition had been settled but it's always worth waiting for a quality project.

It WAS started. This is not empty land in some distant exurb. It is occupied by an existing terminal that is in use. Before anything could happen on the new terminal, a temporary replacement for the existing one had to be built so that could be demolished. That replacement is now complete and demolition is scheduled to begin soon (this summer). That will mark the beginning of construction of the new terminal (which, thanks to some changes of plan that occurred during the interval that was trying your patience and to some "stimulus", will now include the "train box" for CalTrain and CAHSR).

But we all need to keep in mind: The terminal and the tower are separate projects. The link is simply that sale of land for the tower is partially paying for the terminal. But the terminal is a governmental project while the tower itself is private, so it will not begin until the private developer who bought the development rights decides the time is economically right. And I can't imagine anyone thinking that now or anytime soon--UNLESS the project somehow morphs from being all office to at least partially residential, because we are starting to see some stirrings of new residential construction in San Francisco, but the office vacancy rates are still climbing.

[djvandrake]

Awesome interactive website. I can't wait to see this project really begin to move. The new terminal proposal is very impressive. :tup:

[dr_strangelove]

As seen on the banner of the temporarily terminal earlier today, it is schedule to open August 2010, 10 months behind schedule.

[nlosborne3795]

Will this be built? ... I'd like to know because I actually like San Fran

[Reminiscence]

So it seems that the Temporary Terminal, as it's being called, is set to open August 7th. This also happens to be the date in which we will bid farewell (or good riddance for some) to the old terminal. It's not out of this world news, but it's a milestone reached. Socketsite gives an ETA for the new terminal of 2017.

[peanut gallery]

Hey Rem! Long time, no see.

I'm curious as to how long after the closing they will start the demo process. That will be an interesting project all by itself.

[Reminiscence]

Hey p.g! Yes it's been quite a while since I've been here, I've been buried with work from classes :(

From what I've read, the way that the terminal has been built, it still has the old bus ramp on the corner of the property. After the terminal itself opens in August, the actual demolition of that ramp should be completed by November. After that, the terminal should be fully operational, so I'm guessing the current old terminal will be cleared for initial demolition. You're right though, it's something to look forward to!

[botoxic]

^My company is bidding the work to excavate, shore, and construct the "train box" portion of the Transbay Terminal - basically everything below ground level. I'm not sure if demo of the existing structure is included (it's not the type of work we usually do), as I'm currently assigned to a different project.

Initial "train box" proposal packages are due later this month, which may be used to limit the number of qualified applicants, and the job bids in September. Work typically begins a month or two after the bid date (I'm not sure of the exact time frame of this contract, however).

[SFView]

For those interested in keeping updated on construction activity for the Transbay Transit Center - Phase I see:
http://www.webcor.com/current.html?proj_id=263

Related links are given in the page above. Of particular interest regarding construction updates can be found here:
http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/updates-notices/current-activity

...Also check here:
http://www.webcor-obayashi.com/

[Reminiscence]

For those interested in keeping updated on construction activity for the Transbay Transit Center - Phase I see:
http://www.webcor.com/current.html?proj_id=263

Related links are given in the page above. Of particular interest regarding construction updates can be found here:
http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/updates-notices/current-activity

...Also check here:
http://www.webcor-obayashi.com/

Thanks for those links! I have to admit, I'm getting pretty excited that we're getting closer and closer to seeing this start up. I've gone ahead and bookmarked the pages so I can check frequently and see any changes. This is great news for SF :)

[brantw]

As some of you familiar with urban construction projects may know, one of the first steps in building something new in a city like ours is bringing in the archaeologists. Today, digging begins in the parking lot behind the existing Transbay Terminal, marking one of the beginning stages of the new Transbay center project, and archaeologists will spend the next couple of months sifting through the land there to make sure there aren't any important historic (or pre-historic!) items buried underneath.

The temporary terminal on the block between Beale, Main, Howard and Folsom opens August 7. The massive Transbay project, including S.F.'s first legitimately tall building, is expected to be done sometime around 2018, give or take.

Article Here: http://sfist.com/2010/07/12/transbay_parking_lot_getting_sifted.php

[Reminiscence]

As some of you familiar with urban construction projects may know, one of the first steps in building something new in a city like ours is bringing in the archaeologists. Today, digging begins in the parking lot behind the existing Transbay Terminal, marking one of the beginning stages of the new Transbay center project, and archaeologists will spend the next couple of months sifting through the land there to make sure there aren't any important historic (or pre-historic!) items buried underneath.

The temporary terminal on the block between Beale, Main, Howard and Folsom opens August 7. The massive Transbay project, including S.F.'s first legitimately tall building, is expected to be done sometime around 2018, give or take.

Article Here: http://sfist.com/2010/07/12/transbay_parking_lot_getting_sifted.php

This is really cool! I can only imagine the things that might be hidden under there. It is after all, a huge piece of land, and I'm sure they'll be excavating pretty deep for the train box and so. I was thinking maybe they'd find some sort of old remains from fishing boats, but I'm not sure if the original shore reached that far inland :)

[peanut gallery]

The eastern half of it did. I found this map (http://tawdrytalk.com/2009/02/19/san-francisco-original-shoreline/) with the original shoreline superimposed over today's grid so you can see pretty much exactly what used to be bay. Lots of potential for Ohlone artifacts as well.

[botoxic]

Funding fears won't delay transbay transit work

Despite concerns that the sagging real estate market and the state budget crisis could leave the Transbay Transit Center underfunded, transportation officials plan to forge ahead with the $1.6 billion project.

The existing terminal will shut down in the wee hours of Aug. 7, and five transit agencies and Greyhound will move their buses about a block away to an $18 million temporary terminal that will serve as the main downtown transit center for an estimated seven years. Demolition of the Transbay Terminal, which opened in 1939, will start a few days later and include the ramps to Interstate 80.

http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2010/04/21/mn-newterminal22_0501530447.jpg


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/14/BAUT1EDQJN.DTL

[NYC2ATX]

If this is built exactly as envisioned in that rendering, let's just say it is a place I absolutely need to step inside at some point in my life. Absolutely humbling, and so uplifting at the same time. How I love my transit buildings! :notacrook:

[Reminiscence]

The eastern half of it did. I found this map (http://tawdrytalk.com/2009/02/19/san-francisco-original-shoreline/) with the original shoreline superimposed over today's grid so you can see pretty much exactly what used to be bay. Lots of potential for Ohlone artifacts as well.

Wow, that's amazing to see just how much has been filled in. The entire NE and E shores are pretty much man-made. Thanks for that map :)

[peanut gallery]

Hard to believe almost everything from Candlestick to the Presidio is fill. You're welcome!

[RST500]

I was dissapointed when SOM was not chosen but I have to say I like the new renderings. The original renderings were kind of tacky and reminded me more of a suburban shopping mall or office park. The SOM design really had a grand rail terminal feel to it because of the large space and roof. The new design does look more like a rail terminal than the originals.

[botoxic]

Mayor urges homeless to leave Transbay Terminal

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom didn't get the warmest reception Friday morning when he approached a homeless encampment under a bus overpass for the soon-to-be-demolished Transbay Terminal.

It's part of a final push by city officials to find homes for about 30 die-hards who have used the Transbay Terminal and its web of overpasses as a shelter for years, repeatedly resisting the city's stepped-up efforts to get them into transitional housing.

Calling the Transbay Terminal home won't be an option in a week. That's when demolition is scheduled to start on the dank and graffitied bus terminal at First and Mission streets to make way for a gleaming hub for commuter trains, high-speed rail and buses dubbed the "Grand Central Station of the West."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/31/MNQ31EMEJH.DTL#ixzz0vK8YUGhv

[NOPA]

Wow it feels like it has taken forever for them to start tearing this thing down. Good riddance. Lets get some photos of it up!

[dr_strangelove]

TRANSBAY TERMINAL

January 15, 1939- August 7, 2010

[1977]

The ramps are already coming down near the temporary terminal.

http://temporaryterminal.org/the-terminal/webcam/

[brantw]

The ramps are already coming down near the temporary terminal.

http://temporaryterminal.org/the-terminal/webcam/

Awesome!!! :)

[NOPA]

Cool. Anybody know when the actualy building will start to comedown?

[1977]

Cool. Anybody know when the actualy building will start to comedown?

http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/demolition/demolition-overview

[peanut gallery]

^ I was just checking out that page earlier today. Very detailed overview of the entire demo process -- they're basically working east to west. I wish I still worked right next door, but I imagine it would be a pain dealing with the noise and various closures.

[nlosborne3795]

Someone, please help me...

Is this whole development approved, proposed, under-construction? ... Some one please tell me

[HarshLiving]

Someone, please help me...

Is this whole development approved, proposed, under-construction? ... Some one please tell me

From my understanding the terminal will for sure be built. As for the skyscrapers around it, they are still under proposal and will be built if the developers deem them a worthy investment.

[Onn]

Someone, please help me...

Is this whole development approved, proposed, under-construction? ... Some one please tell me

Well not the "whole" development, the Terminal part just went under construction.

http://equitygreen.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/14/transbay.jpg

The tower part is still pending as of now.

[viewguysf]

http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/demolition/demolition-overview

Bad link...

[1977]

Try http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/demolition. If that still doesn't work go to www.transbaycenter.org, click on the 'construction updates' tab, and then on 'demolition information'.

[viewguysf]

Try http://transbaycenter.org/construction-updates/demolition. If that still doesn't work go to www.transbaycenter.org, click on the 'construction updates' tab, and then on 'demolition information'.

Thanks--exciting info--great to see the project actually move forward!

[peanut gallery]

Not much left of the ingress ramps. This is the Howard overpass:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4107/4958888027_6f387daf5c_b.jpg

Around the corner, there are only two small pieces of the old ramps left:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/4959483676_b7d6076ac4_b.jpg

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

has a design been selected?

[Onn]

^^
It's the picture I posted near the top of the page, designed by Cesar Pelli.

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

^^
It's the picture I posted near the top of the page, designed by Cesar Pelli.

yay exactly what i wanted! now lets just build SOM's tower :D

[botoxic]

The acceptance date for bids to excavate and shore the "train box" (underground) portion of the terminal has been pushed back a month, to October 12th.

[dr_strangelove]

I would KILL for some actual news on the tower. We haven't heard anything in three years!

[CyberEric]

I would KILL for some actual news on the tower. We haven't heard anything in three years!

Agreed.

I walked by the terminal yesterday and it looks like construction has halted or slowed considerably. The terminal is still pretty much totally intact and there seem to be dozens of homeless people are sleeping all around. Made me wonder what was going on.

[dr_strangelove]

Agreed.

I walked by the terminal yesterday and it looks like construction has halted or slowed considerably. The terminal is still pretty much totally intact and there seem to be dozens of homeless people are sleeping all around. Made me wonder what was going on.

It appears they are moving right along with demolition:

http://sftoastedblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/transbay-terminal-go-bye-bye.html

[CyberEric]

^ Thanks for that link, it looks like they did some work over the past few days. Good news!

[NYguy]

http://www.constructiondigital.com/industry-focus/project-management/san-francisco-transbay-transit-center

San Francisco Transbay Transit Center
Bringing a culture of mass transit, sustainability and urban revitalization to downtown San Francisco

http://www.constructiondigital.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/Slideshow_656x400/transbayterminalj1264807413.jpg

BY: l.clapper
Sep 27, 2010

In August 2010, construction began on the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco, dubbed the “Grand Central of the West” and one of the city’s largest construction projects. Located near Mission and First Streets in the heart of downtown San Francisco, the project will be built on the former site of the Embarcadero Freeway on-ramps, which were destroyed in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The cost of the Transbay Transit Center and the Caltrain Downtown Rail Extension totals $4.185 billion.

Designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects as a cutting edge multi-modal transportation hub, the Transbay Transit Center will serve over 100,000 passengers per day and connect the eleven public transit systems of the Bay Area, including BART, Caltrain, Amtrak, Muni and Greyhound. It will also serve as the San Francisco station for the future California High Speed Rail. The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) expects that the project will eliminate over 8,000 trips via automobile from the roadways of the Peninsula Corridor, ease congestion on highways 101 and I-280 and improve air quality.

DESIGN ELEMENTS

The design, selected at an international competition in 2007, incorporates elements of the natural environment to create a building that enhances the surrounding area. “We are very proud of our design for the Transbay Transit Center,” said Cesar Pelli, Senior Principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects in a statement released in early August. “This will be a beautiful, functional and sustainable building for San Francisco.”

The Transbay Transit Center will feature a glass exterior with an earthquake-resistant concrete and steel structural frame. The glass, along with the 4,000-square-foot domed skylight that caps the 120-foot-tall light column, allows natural light to permeate through the building into the interior.

An urban park is planned on the top level of the transit center. The park design features walking paths, playgrounds, a 1,000-person performance venue, cafés, over a dozen gardens and a 1,000-foot-long fountain with jets that triggered by the movement of buses entering and exiting the transit center below.

The architects, seeking to achieve LEED Gold Certification, have incorporated several sustainable strategies into the design of the building. The urban park will capture and filter air and water pollutants through the vegetation and water management system. Further, the structure’s water management system will reuse grey water and manage stormwater, conserving over 9.2 million gallons of this precious resource every year.

A geothermal heat exchange system will be incorporated into the four-and-a-half city block foundation of the building. According to the architects, this system will be one of the largest geothermal installations in the world. Additionally, the structure also incorporates natural ventilation and lighting throughout most of the building.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA), along with the City and County of San Francisco, are managing the development of the Transbay Transit Center. Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects was selected by the TJPA to design the project in 2007.

Webcor Builders is working with Obayashi Corp in a joint venture to build the center. Webcor submitted an estimate using Vico Software’s Virtual Construction Suite, a Building Information Modeling (BIM) program, to create an interactive model of the project. “We believe this is the first time such an integrated multi-dimensional process has been used on a major project in the United States,” said Jim Bedrick, Webcor’s Vice President of Virtual Building and Design, in a statement about the project.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The project is part of a revitalization effort to diversify and develop the local area. A 1,000-foot Transbay Tower will be built on the 48,000-square-foot parcel of land adjacent to the transit center. According to the statement released by the Pelli Clarke Pelli, bridges will be built to link the urban park of the transit center to the nearby buildings. “We want this to be a great transit center — one by which the city is perceived — but it must also be a great neighbor,” said Fred Clarke, Senior Principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects in a statement in August.

The entire revitalization project — construction of the transit center, rail extension and redevelopment area — will create over 27,000 permanent jobs. The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (SFRA) has announced plans to develop the surrounding property into a high-density housing and commercial area. Of the 2,600 residential units expected to be built, over 35 percent will consist of affordable housing. According to the TJPA, the redevelopment project will, “serve as a model for transit-oriented development by providing market-rate and affordable housing in a prime, pedestrian-friendly environment where using a car is unnecessary, due to its close proximity to downtown employment, and safe and efficient transportation options.”

The Transbay Transit Center is expected to open in 2017.

[northbay]

some pix of the demolition from SSC:

There has not been a lot of update on this forum about u/c Transbay Terminal. Last month they started demolishing the existing terminal and surrounding approach ramps. Once completed this cluster will have a 400m supertall along with other high-rises and a new transbay terminal. There might be an underground Amtrak train station (not sure about that though). Projected completion date for this project is 2017. Here are some pictures I took a couple days ago. All pictures were taken from Fremont St. (between Mission and Howard).

All images cc: myself

Demolition work in progress at the Transbay Transit Terminal.

http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/121/p1020932v.jpg

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/797/p1020937.jpg

The approach ramp over Fremont St has been demolished partially. The ramp over Beale St. has been demolished completely. The next should be the ramp over 1st St.
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/8489/p1020926s.jpg

The same ramp from the opposite side. Charles Schwab building on Howard St. in the background.
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/69/p1020921.jpg

This was just mind boggling. They brought the concrete/asphalt ramp down while kept the steel structure intact. The reason it is mind boggling is they did that over last weekend and cleared the debris and opened Fremont St. for vehicles and pedestrians. The time it took them to do this work - only 48 hours.
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6200/p1020925l.jpg

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/5043/p1020929s.jpg

My guess is this steel structure will come down this weekend.
http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/4282/p1020928k.jpg

The cleanest construction site I have ever seen.
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8128/p1020930y.jpg

of course we know the train station wont be amtrak but caltrain/future high speed rail.

[coyotetrickster]

some pix of the demolition from SSC:



of course we know the train station wont be amtrak but caltrain/future high speed rail.

Unfortunately, my camera memory was full, so I couldn't take photos to update the earlier thread. I was downtown yesterday and can confirme the steel trusses over Beale Street are now gone and they are finished with most of the demolition of the old Transbay section over Fremont (it was closed to traffic all day yesterday). The appear to be prepping to remove the steel trusses over 1st St, then the last of the old passenger areas of the terminal will be demolished. There is also either a drilling unit (or small wrecking crane, can't tell from the street due to the construction fence) on the land allocated for the Tower construction. SF just moved into positive space absorption for this quarter, but don't hold your breath the tower comes out of the ground soon. I'm betting 2014 for construction (at the earliest).

[Busy Bee]

For a person that has the 'basic picture' of this great project, can someone please tell me why the rather inconsequential but noticeable decision was made to name the new development [Transbay Transit] Center as opposed to the long standing [Transbay Transit] Terminal? I tend to like sticking with what it's always been called. I like the sound of it much better - less generic in nature. Why fix something that isn't broken?

[NOPA]

Nice pics! Thanks for the update! And it will take how many decades to finish?

[CyberEric]

Thanks for the updates guys, I was wondering what was going on. Glad they have something at least resembling a drilling unit on the tower parcel.

[JAC6]

More demolition today. These are from 425 Market and the street. Pretty remarkable progress on these weekends.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/IMG_0004-1.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/IMG_0002-1.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/IMG_0026.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/IMG_0024.jpg

[northbay]

wow. good update!

[JAC6]

And this is what Fremont St. looked like today. They cut away the entire structure that held up that part of the old terminal.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/IMG_0012.jpg

[kiwi4life]

wow pretty intense but good work and great pics

[patriotizzy]

Great updates! Thanks photo uploaders!

[JAC6]

One week later. The pictures from above are obviously through a window, but I think they provide a perspective that outweighs the glare.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/IMG_5206.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/IMG_5207.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/IMG_5212.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/IMG_5215.jpg

[sw5710]

Are they still going to build a 1200' building?.

[CyberEric]

I believe that is still the plan, I haven't heard any news lately, but I'd love to hear something positive.

[ElDuderino]

Wrecking Ball about to hit Transbay Terminal

Michael Cabanatuan, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 2, 2010

Like a pinch-hitting slugger, Big Red has been patiently sitting on the bench for weeks, waiting to take a whack. Early Friday, the appropriately named red Manitowoc crane with an 85-foot boom will swing into action near Fremont and Mission streets.

At 8 a.m., Big Red will raise, then drop, a rusty tear-shaped wrecking ball on the front of the 71-year-old Transbay Terminal, continuing the demolition work that started soon after the last bus departed the station Aug. 7.

That drop, to be repeated many times over the next two months, will erase the familiar concrete structure, which seemed to be the perfect illustration of dreary, from the downtown San Francisco landscape. In its place, a sleek $4 billion terminal built of steel and glass - and already heralded by officials as "the Grand Central Station of the West" - will rise. It is scheduled to open in August 2017.

"Now it's ready for its next incarnation," said Courtney Lodato, spokeswoman for the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the agency overseeing the new Transbay Transit Center.

Since August, crews have removed the eastern ramps that connected the Bay Bridge to the terminal and gutted the inside of the structure. They have removed everything of value - the long wooden benches, the brass atop the railings, the old Key System signs - or danger: asbestos, chemicals and other hazardous materials. Items of value were given to the state, the joint-powers authority or the Western Railway Museum.

The interior of the drab terminal, which was featured in films, including "The Pursuit of Happyness," and became home for many otherwise homeless people, is now desolate, resembling an abandoned parking garage more than a transit hub. Aside from a few abandoned escalators and a sign advertising hotels, most of what remains inside is concrete and steel.

Emilio Cruz, the program manager, said the idea is to remove everything but concrete and steel. Evans Brothers Inc., the demolition contractor, will pound and hammer the building into pieces, punch holes in the main floor, and push the debris into the basement.

"We'll use the basement like a big bathtub," he said.

Crews will pluck the steel from the debris pile and send it off for recycling. The concrete will be ground up in an on-site crusher and used as aggregate in the concrete used for the new center. So far, 6,500 tons of concrete have been demolished.

"Very little of what's torn down will go into landfill," Lodato said.

The old Transbay Terminal should disappear by the end of February or the beginning of March. While the demolition crews move west, tearing down that ramp to the Bay Bridge, other workers will begin excavation and pile-driving in April. The elaborate underpinnings of the terminal will take about three years to complete. Then the new terminal itself will rise from the hole and begin to take shape.

source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/02/BAR01GKGJA.DTL&type=newsbayarea

[CyberEric]

Thanks for the update!
No mention of the tower in that article, hmmm.

[mrnyc]

awesome awesome news i cant wait to see this when its finished -- thanks!

[NOPA]

Here are some links to photos and video clips of the demolition. From what I understand, building the new terminal and tower are separate projects. I think this thread should be moved to projects category, or at least start a new thread dedicated to the building of the actual terminal.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2010/12/03/transbay.DTL
http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/12/demolition-crew-takes-wrecking-ball-to-old-transbay-terminal.php

[dr_strangelove]

Here are some links to photos and video clips of the demolition. From what I understand, building the new terminal and tower are separate projects. I think this thread should be moved to projects category, or at least start a new thread dedicated to the building of the actual terminal.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2010/12/03/transbay.DTL
http://sfappeal.com/news/2010/12/demolition-crew-takes-wrecking-ball-to-old-transbay-terminal.php


I agree- this should be taken out of the supertall proposals as this has nothing to do with the tower. Mods please...

[JAC6]

Today, 12/6/10.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/IMG_0758.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/IMG_0755.jpg

[patriotizzy]

Hire 1000 workers. I really want to see this finished within the next year lol.

[ElDuderino]

I agree- this should be taken out of the supertall proposals as this has nothing to do with the tower. Mods please...

Yes, there should be a new thread for the terminal in the 'General Developments' section...someone

[mrnyc]

very cool and keep us up to date with those destruct-o-porn shots.

out with the old -- make way for the west coast grand central!

[NYguy]

I agree- this should be taken out of the supertall proposals as this has nothing to do with the tower. Mods please...

Anyone can create the thread if there isn't one already. My understanding is that this particular thread is for the tower proposal.

[JAC6]

12/12/10.

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/002.jpg

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/007.jpg

[NOPA]

Cool! Good riddance, except I think the displaced homeless people who lived there came to my neighborhood :(

[SFView]

Along with Glenn Rescalvo's massing study for 10th & Market (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=128011&page=7), I also noticed this drawing by Brian Lee of SOM up for bid:

source: http://www.biddingforgood.com/auctio...onId=118623600

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m96/mrayatsfo/BrianLeeLostGateway.jpg

[San Frangelino]

That's like a Christmas Card to me.

Along with Glenn Rescalvo's massing study for 10th & Market (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=128011&page=7), I also noticed this drawing by Brian Lee of SOM up for bid:

source: http://www.biddingforgood.com/auctio...onId=118623600

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m96/mrayatsfo/BrianLeeLostGateway.jpg

[patriotizzy]

^^^^^ Please please!

[CyberEric]

What is that!?

[NYguy]

That was my favorite of the proposals.

[northbay]

and nearly everyone elses... sigh...

[Busy Bee]

Everybody loved that gorgeous tower and the massive base with the terminal entrance that just screamed "glorious" for lack of a better word. But we know that SOM's actual transit terminal design had issues with ciculation and capacity and I think the notion was they spent too much time on the wow factor of the beautiful tower and not enough time on engineering a bulletproof intermodal center, which is what the whole project wad about. I think had SOM gone back to the table and redesigned the terminal the best they could they probably would have won the competition.

[dr_strangelove]

Everybody loved that gorgeous tower and the massive base with the terminal entrance that just screamed "glorious" for lack of a better word. But we know that SOM's actual transit terminal design had issues with ciculation and capacity and I think the notion was they spent too much time on the wow factor of the beautiful tower and not enough time on engineering a bulletproof intermodal center, which is what the whole project wad about. I think had SOM gone back to the table and redesigned the terminal the best they could they probably would have won the competition.

Don't kid yourself- the reason was that Hines promised TJPA more money for the land (which hasn't been paid yet :sly: )

[JAC6]

What it looks like this week:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/Picture003.jpg

[edwards]

Some shots from yesterday...

https://img.skitch.com/20101224-tn9wm1ayqasukdq6wpwj2ra8up.png

https://img.skitch.com/20101224-b6sea9ix12cjj7yybrfs9p6ef5.png

https://img.skitch.com/20101224-rak7udwtk8xpuphp2eu38hhmwu.png

[northbay]

excellent shots you guys! thanks for the update.

edwards: thanks for the shots of the temporary terminal - those are the best (maybe only) ones ive seen on this site!

[JSsocal]

Lots of photos of Transbay Demolition as of last tuesday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34734039@N04/sets/72157625696227800/

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5001/5301807591_14c351735d_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5203/5302401588_83f0e1015f_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5162/5301809125_20bd79dbe1_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5248/5302403428_1681ccb28c_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5086/5302403992_0f205a51ab_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5083/5301811231_182d18ecaf_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5302405622_511666dd54_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5301812979_48ab93e47f_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5241/5301813661_2fbb86d090_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5050/5302408710_bf436f0b36_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5301816517_27eb0c8203_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5046/5301817137_93884a53be_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5301817809_d3ba6d7166_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5301818653_7df8c16491_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5302412776_57386cb629_b.jpg
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5302413292_f8ba4f9846_b.jpg

[1977]

Great pictures! Thanks for the update JSsocal.

[pseudolus]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5304471335_7c3f2f2a41_z.jpg

This coffee-swilling fellow gets his first peek at daylight in 70-plus years.

[JDRCRASH]

Is all that copper wiring? If so, why not save and re use it?

[SFView]

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5045/5304471335_7c3f2f2a41_z.jpg

This coffee-swilling fellow gets his first peek at daylight in 70-plus years.

I wanted to know who this 'coffee-swilling fellow' really is.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hills_Brothers_Coffee
A symbol of an Arab drinking coffee called "the taster" was designed by an artist named Briggs in 1906[4] but was replaced by a new "taster" to represent the original founders in 1990

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9a/397_l.jpg

There is a Hills Bros. Coffee Plant located at 2 Harrison Street at the Embarcadero in San Francisco built 1926. It is an official landmark building.
http://www.noehill.com/sf/landmarks/sf157.asp

[JAC6]

1/4/11:

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/jcrotty_bucket/skyscraper/Picture019.jpg

[RST500]

and nearly everyone elses... sigh...

what is the status on the SOM proposal? will the tower get built?

[1977]

what is the status on the SOM proposal? will the tower get built?

SOM's proposal wasn't chosen. Cesar Pelli's tower and terminal were picked. See here (http://transbaycenter.org/) for a video and more info.

[CyberEric]

That is a nice little video.
I don't think anyone really knows if the tower will get built. I hope it does.