One Rincon Hill, Residential skyscraper complex in South Beach, San Francisco, United States
One Rincon Hill is a residential complex on the apex of Rincon Hill, made up of two towers joined at the base by a row of townhomes. The South Tower rises 60 stories and 641 feet, the North Tower 50 stories and 541 feet, and together they hold 709 units. The South Tower's east, north and west faces are a linear glass curtainwall; both towers carry an oval crown housing mechanical equipment.
The site, beside the western approach of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, formerly held a clock tower, demolished shortly after the city approved the One Rincon Hill project. Construction of the townhomes and South Tower ran from 2005 to 2008, paused briefly for seismic concerns and a construction accident. The South Tower drew controversy over view encroachment, high pricing and architectural style as it neared completion.
The oval crown of the South Tower holds a band of 25 LED floodlights that stay lit all night, the Bay Area's first weather beacon. Red signals warmer weather ahead, blue cold, green at least a 50 percent chance of rain, and amber unchanged conditions. The lights first came on December 8, 2008, modeled on Boston's Berkeley Building.
The site is bounded by Harrison Street to the northwest, the Fremont Street exit ramp to the north, the Bay Bridge approach on the east and the 1st Street entrance ramp to the southwest. Because Rincon Hill slopes, the South Tower's 1st Street entrance sits on the sixth floor, with the first floor five levels below it.
Large water tanks sit at the top of the South Tower and function as shock absorbers to steady the building during strong winds. This engineering detail often goes unnoticed by people passing below, yet it plays an important role in keeping the structure stable.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,784 contributors worldwide.
