The Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project, an urban waterfront development in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood, has officially broken ground. 

Sitting in a historic industrial site, this project sees the revitalization of the decommissioned Potrero Power Generating Station, which was first established in the late 1800s. This development will open a large part of the city’s Central Waterfront for the first time in 150 years. A new 29-acre mixed-use neighborhood, reportedly with sustainable features, will be formed, fit for 2,600 residents and featuring 1.6 million square feet of workspace, 100 thousand square feet of storefronts, and seven acres of green space. Restaurants, hotels, cafés, and childcare facilities, among others, will also be included. 

The development is reportedly delivering over $860 million in community benefits, which includes hundreds of units of affordable housing, historical preservation, public infrastructure, and the extension of the Dogpatch streetscape. Original structures from the power station will be preserved, including Station A, the stack structure, and the Unit 3 power station, which, at the time of the facility’s closure, was one of the oldest power plants still operating in California. The neighborhood will also prioritize active and public transportation, and all buildings aim to meet or exceed LEED Gold standards.

Foster + Partners designed two residential-led mixed-use buildings at the heart of the site, which include affordable housing units. 

Armstrong Yakubu, a Senior Partner at Foster + Partners, said: “This project offers a unique opportunity to reinvigorate an erstwhile industrial quarter and infuse new life into this part of San Francisco. Our proposals will deliver much-needed homes guided by a design approach that is underpinned by people, sustainability and community, and rooted in the rich history of the place. Our aim is to give Dogpatch an ideal urban framework to help create a vibrant, healthy, and inclusive 21st century live/work community.”

Inspired by the traditional courtyards and alleyways of the area, the buildings are arranged around a central open space at ground level, lined with neighborhood retail and local amenities. Pedestrian and cycle routes move through these spaces, establishing new connections with the surrounding areas. The lower floors of the buildings host several shared social spaces and co-working areas, creating a hub of activity throughout the day. 

The design is based on a series of interconnected two-story elements within a modular organizational grid that allows for both spatial and programmatic flexibility. The buildings come together as a dynamic assembly of stepped blocks. Additionally, the apartments were carefully designed to maximize fresh air, natural light, and access to the green landscaped terraces throughout the building. The new neighborhood park is connected both visually and physically with the garden roof terraces overlooking the water. 

The Potrero Power Station Mixed-Use Project was unanimously approved by the San Francisco Planning Commission and the city’s Board of Supervisors early last year. Developer Associate Capital purchased the site for $86 million in 2016, and Perkins and Will oversaw the development’s master plan. The project will be constructed over six phases and span an estimated 16 years.