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Millennium Tower (301 Mission Street)
Encyclopedia
Millennium Tower is a 58-story highrise condominium
completed in 2009 in the San Francisco Financial District, South of Market. A mixed-use building, primarily residential, it is the tallest building in San Francisco to include residences. The blue-gray glass, late-modernist
tower is bounded by Mission
, Fremont, and Beale Streets, and the north end of the Transbay Terminal. The building was opened to residents on April 23, 2009. Its highest level, 58 floors above the ground, is listed as the 60th.
, engineered by DeSimone Consulting Engineers and constructed by Webcor Builders
. At 645 ft (196.6 m), it is the tallest concrete structure in San Francisco, the fourth tallest building in San Francisco overall, and the tallest since 345 California Street in 1986. It is also the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi. The tower is slender, with each floor containing 14000 sq ft (1,300.6 m²) of floor space. In addition to the 58-story tower, there is an 125 ft (38.1 m), 11-story tower on the northeast end of the complex. Between the two towers is a 43 ft (13.1 m), two-story glass atrium
. In total, the project has 416 units. The residences are said to be the priciest on the West Coast, with penthouse units on the top two floors selling for around US$12 million. The bottom 25 floors of the main tower are called Residences while the floors from 26 to the top have the name Grand Residences. The 53 units in the 12-story tower are called the City Residences. Below street level, there are 434 parking spaces in a five-level subterranean garage located under the 11-story tower. The building is located next to the site of the future Transbay Terminal. Overall, the tower's design is intended to resemble a translucent crystal, and is a landmark for the Transbay Redevelopment and the southern skyline of San Francisco. Millennium Tower is also home to RN74, a restaurant and wine bar under the direction of Chef Michael Mina
, located on the ground floor.
Resident services include a private concierge and exclusive access to the 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) Club Level, featuring an owners’ lounge, tasting room and cellar, private dining room (serviced by Chef Michael Mina’s RN74), screening room, children’s playroom, outdoor terrace, and a 5500 square feet (511 m²) fitness center operated by Sports Club/LA, complete with Pilates and yoga studios, massage therapy, locker rooms, Jacuzzi and steam rooms as well as a 75 feet (22.9 m), indoor, competition-length lap pool. A monthly events program called La Vie was launched in 2010. La Vie provides residents with monthly offerings, from film screenings in the Club Level’s screening room to celebrity fireside chats, on- and off-site winemaker events, musical performances, and more.
On September 6, 2010, Dan Goodwin
, also known as SpiderDan and Skyscraperman, scaled the outside of the tower using suction cups. Following the climb, Goodwin was arrested by the San Francisco police who charged him with trespassing. Goodwin, a stage-four cancer
survivor, stated the reason he made the climb was to call attention to the inability of fire departments to conduct rescue operations in the upper floors of skyscrapers. In the 1980's, in advocacy for high-rise firefighting and rescue, Goodwin scaled many of the world's tallest buildings including the Sears Tower
, the John Hancock Center
, and the World Trade Center
.
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
completed in 2009 in the San Francisco Financial District, South of Market. A mixed-use building, primarily residential, it is the tallest building in San Francisco to include residences. The blue-gray glass, late-modernist
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
tower is bounded by Mission
Mission Street
Mission Street is a north-south arterial thoroughfare in San Francisco, California that runs from the city's southern border to its northeast corner. The street and the Mission District through which it runs were named for the Spanish Mission Dolores, several blocks away from the modern route. Only...
, Fremont, and Beale Streets, and the north end of the Transbay Terminal. The building was opened to residents on April 23, 2009. Its highest level, 58 floors above the ground, is listed as the 60th.
Description
The project was developed by Millennium Partners of New York City, designed by Handel ArchitectsHandel Architects
Handel Architects LLP is an architecture firm that was founded in New York City in 1994. Led by Partner Gary Handel, the firm has offices in New York City, San Francisco, Hong Kong and Abu Dhabi. The firm is composed of five Partners: Gary Handel, Blake Middleton, Glenn Rescalvo, Frank Fusaro, and...
, engineered by DeSimone Consulting Engineers and constructed by Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders
Webcor Builders is a commercial construction contractor with headquarters in San Francisco, California. The firm also has regional offices in San Mateo, California, Alameda, California, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and is among the largest builders in California with clients including Starwood...
. At 645 ft (196.6 m), it is the tallest concrete structure in San Francisco, the fourth tallest building in San Francisco overall, and the tallest since 345 California Street in 1986. It is also the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi. The tower is slender, with each floor containing 14000 sq ft (1,300.6 m²) of floor space. In addition to the 58-story tower, there is an 125 ft (38.1 m), 11-story tower on the northeast end of the complex. Between the two towers is a 43 ft (13.1 m), two-story glass atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
. In total, the project has 416 units. The residences are said to be the priciest on the West Coast, with penthouse units on the top two floors selling for around US$12 million. The bottom 25 floors of the main tower are called Residences while the floors from 26 to the top have the name Grand Residences. The 53 units in the 12-story tower are called the City Residences. Below street level, there are 434 parking spaces in a five-level subterranean garage located under the 11-story tower. The building is located next to the site of the future Transbay Terminal. Overall, the tower's design is intended to resemble a translucent crystal, and is a landmark for the Transbay Redevelopment and the southern skyline of San Francisco. Millennium Tower is also home to RN74, a restaurant and wine bar under the direction of Chef Michael Mina
Michael Mina
Michael Mina is an award-winning American celebrity chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author. He is the executive chef at his two namesake restaurants in San Francisco and Las Vegas, Nevada, and partners with Andre Agassi in Mina Group, a restaurant management company that owns 16 restaurants in...
, located on the ground floor.
Resident services include a private concierge and exclusive access to the 20000 square feet (1,858.1 m²) Club Level, featuring an owners’ lounge, tasting room and cellar, private dining room (serviced by Chef Michael Mina’s RN74), screening room, children’s playroom, outdoor terrace, and a 5500 square feet (511 m²) fitness center operated by Sports Club/LA, complete with Pilates and yoga studios, massage therapy, locker rooms, Jacuzzi and steam rooms as well as a 75 feet (22.9 m), indoor, competition-length lap pool. A monthly events program called La Vie was launched in 2010. La Vie provides residents with monthly offerings, from film screenings in the Club Level’s screening room to celebrity fireside chats, on- and off-site winemaker events, musical performances, and more.
History
The current building replaced an earlier design which included two towers called 301 Mission Street I & 301 Mission Street II linked together by a six story podium. The earlier design was never built and the current plan replaced it sometime around 2003. Soon afterward, the project was approved 4-1 and construction began in 2005. The only against vote came from Planning Commissioner Sue Lee.On September 6, 2010, Dan Goodwin
Dan Goodwin
American Dan Goodwin is a building, rock, and sports climber, as well as a stage-four cancer survivor, originally from Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, and living as of 2010 in Lake Tahoe, California.-Building climber:...
, also known as SpiderDan and Skyscraperman, scaled the outside of the tower using suction cups. Following the climb, Goodwin was arrested by the San Francisco police who charged him with trespassing. Goodwin, a stage-four cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
survivor, stated the reason he made the climb was to call attention to the inability of fire departments to conduct rescue operations in the upper floors of skyscrapers. In the 1980's, in advocacy for high-rise firefighting and rescue, Goodwin scaled many of the world's tallest buildings including the Sears Tower
Sears Tower
Sears' optimistic growth projections were not met. Competition from its traditional rivals continued, with new competition by retailing giants such as Kmart, Kohl's, and Wal-Mart. The fortunes of Sears & Roebuck declined in the 1970s as the company lost market share; its management grew more...
, the John Hancock Center
John Hancock Center
John Hancock Center at 875 North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area of Chicago, Illinois, is a 100-story, 1,127-foot tall skyscraper, constructed under the supervision of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, with chief designer Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan...
, and the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
.
Awards
The building has garnered several awards from several engineerning and architectural organisations.- 2008: American Concrete Institute Awards, Northern California – Construction
- 2008: Concrete Industry Board – Roger H. CIB Award of Merit
- 2009: American Society of Civil Engineers, Region 9 – Structural Engineering Project of the Year
- 2008: American Society of Civil Engineers, San Francisco Section – Outstanding Structural Engineering Project
- 2009: Metal Architecture Magazine – April 2009 edition Top Honor
- 2009: California Construction – Outstanding Project Management
- 2009: California Construction – Multi-family/Residential, Award of Merit
- 2010: San Francisco Business Times – Deal of the Year Award
- 2010: San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Business Awards – Building San Francisco Award