Taking in the Views from One Rincon Hill

One Rincon Hill is a 62 story high-rise apartment building under construction in San Francisco on a parcel of land adjacent to the western terminus of the Bay Bridge and Interstate 80. 

Designed by the Chicago architectural firm of Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz and Associates, One Rincon has transformed the San Francisco skyline by adding a dramatic tower to a section of the city that has long been dominated by squat, light-industrial buildings. The exterior facade is, unfortunately, butt-ugly.  Cheezy, even. But for fans of advanced engineering, One Rincon Hill will also be the first building in the U.S. with a tuned liquid damper -- a computer-controlled water tank at the top of the structure that will help to reduce sway from Pacific winds and potential earthquakes.

Because of its soaring height and its conspicuous location beside one of San Francisco's busiest transportation arteries, One Rincon has generated lots of curiosity among Bay Area locals, with much of that interest focused on two very logical questions:

1) What will the views be like for the lucky souls who will live in the pricey apartments at the top of the building?

2) How bad will the noise be for the less-lucky souls who buy the units that sit at eye-level alongside the Bay Bridge and Interstate 80?

After paying a visit to the construction site, Telstar Logistics can offer answers to both these questions. The views from the top are stunning and magnificent.  But the noise at the bottom is droning and relentless -- sort of like a rushing river, but without the reassuring gurgles.

Unless you have a rich friend who will live in One Rincon, few will have the opportunity to experience the building after construction is completed in 2008. So for curious Bay Area residents or fans of urban cityscapes, Telstar Logistics is pleased to offer this photoset that takes you inside -- and up -- the emerging world of One Rincon Hill. Strap on your hard hat, and enjoy the view!

LINKS:
One Rincon Hill, Under Construction (Flickr Photoset by Telstar Logistics)

One Rincon Hill (Wikipedia page)

One Rincon Hill (official page by Urban West Associates, the property developer)

Comments

[curious]

I wonder what the vibrations are like at the lower floors and what the sway is like at the higher floors?

[Mal deMer]

Ah, it makes my heart leap with joy knowing that all of the tenants won't be clogging our streets with cars since the units don't come with parking. Just think, thousands of people living in the City and getting by on our 'wonderful' public transit system! Hah, hey buddy, see that there bridge out the window? I can get it for you really cheap. Poor slobs will have to resort to 'renting' parking places (which will not be tax deductible like the interest on their mortgages) and the city will gouge even more money out of them in parking taxes and permits. Wait and see how many parking lots go up in the surrounding area to accommodate the suckers who have been denied parking by the 'anti-car' fascists. Oh, I forgot - they'll all ride bicycles, huh?

[Chris Doyle]

That thing hurts my eyeballs every time I look at it.

[randy]

the tower is actually 64 stories , not 62 as noted -