Developer enlarges plan for tower in SF’s SoMa

A Boston developer has upgraded plans to build a nearly 1 million square-foot office tower and affordable apartment complex in San Francisco’s South of Market.

Boston Properties, among the nation’s largest office landlords, has enlarged its plans for a 14-story high-rise at 725 Harrison St., SFYimby reported.

The $250 million project, approved in 2019, has been modified to include 40,000 square feet more office space, additional space for industrial use and eight new bicycle parking spaces.

The developer also plans to provide land for a 144-unit affordable housing complex next door, according to SF Yimby. It would replace a stretch of one- and two-story brick industrial buildings.

The Boston-based real estate investment trust would dedicate Lot 149 to the city for the future development of a 144-unit affordable housing project. The housing would not be built by Boston Properties, but is included in the initial study and evaluation of the community plan.

With the proposed modifications, the proposed 185-foot main tower would have 843,200 square feet of offices, 29,500 square feet of industrial use – officially known as production, design and repair – 3,900 square feet of ground-floor shops and restaurants and a 3,000 square foot child-care facility and outdoor playground.

Parking would be included for 120 vehicles and 308 bicycles. The future apartment building is expected to be 108,000 square feet. The project is expected to be carbon neutral and aims to receive LEED Platinum certification once complete.

The office structure, designed by Culver City-based HOK, would include an eight-story base capped by two interconnected oval towers of 105 feet each. The building would be sheathed in thousands of rectangular, copper-colored metal panels surrounding sheets of glass.

Boston Properties, which claims to be the largest developer and manager of Class-A properties in the U.S., would add two privately owned public areas.

An indoor-outdoor space at the corner of Fourth and Harrison Street would offer a lounging place for pedestrians, while a mid-block passage would offer a landscaped shortcut between Harrison Street and Perry Street.

For office employees, there would be 14,100 square feet of open space divided across roof terraces on levels 7, 11, 14, as well as the rooftop.

Construction is expected to be built in either one or two phases, beginning with the southwest portion and ending with the northeast section and child care facility.

A one-phase project is expected to take between 20 to 28 months. A two-phase project would take as long as 38 months to complete. A groundbreaking has not been set.

[SFYimby] – Dana Bartholomew