55 Second

55 Second Street is located in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District, half a block from Market Street. The design responds to challenging site conditions, such as the adjoining narrow alleyway and the Historic Conservation District, with the goal of creating a high-rise office tower that is both visually prominent and contextual. While the building has a strong vertical façade along Second Street, it steps back respectfully on the east elevation, where it faces a historic building. Belt courses, cornices, and other detailing strengthen the visual relationships with the street and adjacent buildings. Details at the top of the building, including the large torchieres which are illuminated at night, recall earlier San Francisco towers, creating a memorable skyline profile. A galleria links the adjacent historic California Farmers building with the tower, connecting the narrow alley of Stevenson Street to a vest-pocket park, thereby encouraging pedestrian circulation through the district.