SAN FRANCISCO | 301 Mission Street | 645 FT / 197 M | 60 FLOORS

[SFView]

This project at 645' and 60 stories, and the Living Shangri-La in Vancouver at almost the same height of 640' and 60 stories, are at almost the same stage of completion. If I'm not mistaken, they also began construction at about the same time. It's as if the two buildings are almost like twin sisters here on the west coast of North America.

See: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=68265&page=23

[peanut gallery]

Also, they both push past the previous tallest all-residential buildings in the West. Good observation, SFView. I hadn't thought about the similarities before.

[roadwarrior]

Originally Posted by SFView

This project at 645' and 60 stories, and the Living Shangri-La in Vancouver at almost the same height of 640' and 60 stories, are at almost the same stage of completion. If I'm not mistaken, they also began construction at about the same time. It's as if the two buildings are almost like twin sisters here on the west coast of North America.

See: http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=68265&page=23

I have to say that I prefer the reflective facade of Shangri-La. Now, perhaps the crown at the Millenium will be better (we'll find out within the next few weeks).

[BTinSF]

^^^When I look at pictures of Vancouver with that Shangri-La thing sticking way up above the other buildings, it reminds me that, as problematic as the SF skyline is in certain respects (table-top effect), it's taller than we sometimes think. Vancouver has built lots and lots of glassy condos in the last couple of decades (and I love the place), but nearly all of them are 25-30 stories and Shangri-La emphasizes that by towering over them, whereas Millenium almost gets lost in the SF skyline.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Also, they both push past the previous tallest all-residential buildings in the West. Good observation, SFView. I hadn't thought about the similarities before.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, is not an all-residential building; as the name implies, it's a hotel on the first fifteen floors with luxury condos above. They're also promoting it as a 61-story building.http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/vancouver/shangrila

Yes BT, our skyline is much higher, denser and more impressive than Vancouver's!

[Pistola916]

I just got back from Vancouver myself... I agree SF has a denser downtown and taller buildings. I also think SF has a better vibe than Van, but could be because of the awful weather it gets. But Van does have an impressive skyline.

[peanut gallery]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

The Shangri-La Hotel, Vancouver, is not an all-residential building; as the name implies, it's a hotel on the first fifteen floors with luxury condos above.

Oops. I guess I should have reviewed that thread more carefully. I only knew about the condos and didn't realize it had "hotel" right in the name.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by Pistola916

I just got back from Vancouver myself... I agree SF has a denser downtown and taller buildings. I also think SF has a better vibe than Van, but could be because of the awful weather it gets. But Van does have an impressive skyline.

It's a very nice city, but as a personal European comparison, I've always thought of Vancouver and Seattle as being more like Scandinavia while we're more like the Mediterranean. In general, the people of those Northwest cities have a different and more reserved personality than those here. It's a matter of personal preference, but San Francisco is my first love even though it can frustrate us occasionally.

[viewguysf]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Oops. I guess I should have reviewed that thread more carefully. I only knew about the condos and didn't realize it had "hotel" right in the name.

That's OK Peanut. Shangri-La is a world-renowned hotel chain, but that wouldn't help if you aren't familiar with it.

[BTinSF]

Originally Posted by viewguysf

It's a very nice city, but as a personal European comparison, I've always thought of Vancouver and Seattle as being more like Scandinavia while we're more like the Mediterranean.

I've spent a week at a time in Vancouver on several occasions and I guess I'm lucky because the weather has been great every time. I remember the first time--in summer--I even went to an outdoor concert by the Vancouver Symphony and we sat on a lawn on Granville Island in the late evening (summer suns sets late there) and it was warm and beautiful. Another time was in December but even then it wasn't raining. For our Canadian friends, another thing I recall about the Symphony was that they started off by playing "Oh, Canada" and nobody knew the words--followed by laughter.

I do realize that, by reputation at least, it rains a lot there.

[JAC6]

Another view of the crown, this one from the 33rd floor of a nearby building.

[peanut gallery]

Nice! A very different perspective than I've seen before.

[Reminiscence]

Here's Webcor's update for April by the way:

APRIL 2008

TOWER

The Tower’s dress blues (the window wall) will reach level 58 by the end of April. The building is expected to be fully glazed between the end of the May and early June, depending upon the removal of the personnel and equipment hoist.

Millennium Tower has been crowned with the first phase of its challenging structural steel assembly. A great deal of planning, coordination, and many sleepless nights went into this structure; so it should be enjoyed now before it is permanently covered in glass, stainless steel and aluminum. After that, only pigeons and maintenance personnel will be able to appreciate this marvelous, steel work of art.

The roofing activity began as soon as the iron workers repelled-off of the tower. Once the roofing subcontractor is finished on the tower, they will begin on the mid-rise roof. Next, the MEPS (Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Systems) subcontractors will take their turn on the tower roof – placing equipment, piping and wiring.

All the MEPS equipment and waterproofing will have been completed by the time the second phase kicks off – after the removal of the roof mount. Subcontractors associated with the final close-up will have the challenge of protecting all the work previously placed; and the entire roof and skin of the building from level two and above, will be complete between May-June.

The labor intensive interior work is marching-up the building and transforming the gray, sparse concrete spaces into elegant condominiums. As straightforward as this may sound, significant time and coordination is required to successfully complete the interior finishes in a project of this magnitude. In the tower structure itself, the current interior work involves more than 20 Subcontractors and roughly 250 craft workers spread through-out the building. The first milestone for this scope of work will be the “punch list” of the first completed floors. To date, the owner /architect has reviewed and punched the first ten floors in the Tower.


MID-RISE

Webcor Concrete has been moving along like a steam locomotive by running a six day per floor cycle and completing their last structural slab in March! Like on the Tower, they’ll be doing clean-up, curbs, and housekeeping pads; and should be 100% by the end of April.

The freshly painted cantilevered beams will be hanging over the remaining area of the atrium the second to last week of April. The pool skylight steel was completed last month and it waits fire proofing. The final steel activity will be on level 12 which will start between the end of April and early May.

Roofing tar will start bubbling on level 12 and 14 not long after the roofing subcontractor has completed their work on the tower.

The storefront framing and glazing on the first and second levels is about 85% complete. The canopy work starts once the glazing work has been completed and the Beale Street Canopy will be clad with aluminum by the end of this month. The Atrium work will start after those previously mentioned white cantilever beams are placed. Glazing of the building above the podium has begun and will finish between May and June.

Source: Webcor.com

[Downtown Dave]

Midrise progress; steel has appeared on the roof:

[peanut gallery]

One shot from this morning:

[peanut gallery]

It was mostly overcast today, giving Millennium a little bit different tint:

[Reminiscence]

I see they've reached the top level with the glass on the southwestern corner of the building. I cant wait until they start installing it on the crown, which looks really prominent in p.g.'s last couple shots. I'm also wondering how they're going to uninstall the crane from the roof, as I've never seen it done.

[Downtown Dave]

More mid rise work:





Really getting close now:

[_J_]

This tower redefines the new districts in a big way...I was at Howard x 2nd for hours Sunday for the How Weird street fair, and 301 takes the pomo eyecandy cake without a doubt. Formal expressionism (no matter how minimal) asserts itself in the SF skyline once more, and I'm so glad to see it happen. That crown is going to kick 4$$!

[norcaldude21]

I can't believe this project is almost done. Does anyone know when it will be officially completed? Are they running on schedule? The building looks great and you can really appreciate it as you drive north on the 101.