Proposed San Francisco skyscraper would be tallest on West Coast

A developer has submitted a proposal to build a massive 1,225-foot skyscraper in San Francisco that would surpass Salesforce Tower by 150 feet, making it the tallest building on the West Coast, according to CBS News and ABC7 News.

1,225-Foot Hines Tower Proposal

The ambitious proposal comes from Hines, the same developer that co-created Salesforce Tower, demonstrating their continued confidence in San Francisco's real estate market despite current challenges. Submitted on Friday, July 11, 2025, the plan calls for a sleek 1,225-foot structure to replace the office building at 77 Beale Street, part of PG&E's former headquarters which Hines acquired in 2021 for $800 million after the utility relocated to Oakland.reddit+1

This comprehensive development encompasses an entire city block and includes:

• 1.6 million square feet of office space, plus retail outlets and restaurantsx+1
• A new public garden situated mid-blockreddit
• Restoration of two historic buildings at 215 and 245 Market Streetx+1
• Conversion of the smaller office building at 25 Beale Street into 120 residential unitsreddit+1

The proposal replaces Hines' earlier plan to build an 808-unit residential tower on the site, marking a significant shift in strategy that has received enthusiastic support from city officials, including Mayor Daniel Lurie and Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who called it "exactly the kind of bold innovative project our downtown needs."reddit+1

Former PG&E Headquarters Site

The 77 Beale Street building, completed in 1971, served as Pacific Gas & Electric Company's headquarters for nearly five decades before the utility announced plans to relocate to Oakland in 2020. The 34-story, 150-meter (490 ft) steel-frame skyscraper was designed by architects Hertzka & Knowles and constructed by Hathaway Dinwiddie. It formed part of a larger headquarters complex that included historic buildings at 245 Market Street (constructed 1923-25) and an annex built in 1945, both of which were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.wikipedia+3

PG&E sold its San Francisco headquarters complex to Hines for $800 million in a deal that closed in 2021, as part of the utility's cost-cutting strategy. The company relocated to 300 Lakeside Drive in Oakland, which it subsequently purchased for $906 million, a move expected to generate substantial long-term savings for customers. Following the acquisition, Hines proposed changing the building's address from 77 Beale Street to 200 Mission Street as part of its redevelopment plans. The site has now become the focus of the developer's ambitious proposal to construct what would be the tallest building on the West Coast.hines+2

150 Feet Taller Than Salesforce

The proposed Hines tower would dramatically alter San Francisco's skyline by rising 150 feet higher than the current tallest building, Salesforce Tower, which stands at 1,070 feet (326 meters). This height differential represents approximately 15 additional stories, creating a striking visual contrast between the two structures. If built, the new skyscraper would not only surpass Salesforce Tower but would also eclipse the 1,100-foot Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles by 125 feet, claiming the title of tallest building on the West Coast.wikipedia+1

Salesforce Tower, completed in 2018, is currently San Francisco's first and only "supertall" skyscraper (exceeding 300 meters/984 feet). It dethroned the iconic Transamerica Pyramid, which had held the title of San Francisco's tallest building for 45 years from 1972 to 2017. The proposed 1,225-foot tower would continue this upward trajectory for the city's skyline, potentially becoming a new landmark addition to San Francisco's architectural identity and further cementing the city's position as having the second largest skyline in the Western United States.reddit+1