Rising 238 feet above the heart of San Francisco, this LEED™ Platinum–certified office building at 49 South Van Ness sets the standard for how government buildings can be built to serve and inspire the public.

Delivered by Pankow Builders and designed by global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the 530,129-square-foot structure is the new headquarters for the city’s Department of Public Works and home to three additional municipal departments: Planning, Building Inspection, and Permitting Center.

Self-performed concrete

Pankow oversaw the demolition of two existing structures, followed by shoring, deep excavation, and the construction of a 16-story tower. The project features a two level, cast-in-place, below-grade concrete parking garage.

Pankow self-performed the concrete work—a key strategic move that optimized costs, scheduling, and quality control.

Inviting two-story glass base

SOM’s design includes several sustainability features. Electrochromic glass panels adjust to outside light conditions in real time to reduce glare and solar gain. Vision glass curtain walls optimize natural light and energy performance, providing long-term operational savings. The two-story glass base opens to a light-filled public lobby.

49 South Van Ness is part of a broad mixed-use development led by Related California. The project has reactivated an underused city corridor to create a home for several city departments.