Originally the site of a Concourse exhibition hall in a 1909 freight depot, 855 Brannan—developed by Equity Residential and designed by David Baker Architects—provides a “neighborhood in transformation” with high-quality homes through architecture that complements the existing built environment in San Francisco’s Design District.
The building’s 449 apartments include 55 below-market-rate units and 15 at-grade flex lofts, surrounded by extensive open space. Along Brannan Street, a renewed pedestrian corridor with wider sidewalks and community-serving retail leads into two mid-block passages lined with mature palm trees. The passages break up the building’s large scale with flex space entries, amenity spaces, and a central urban redwood grove.
The exteriors feature weathering and galvanized steel cladding, in reference to the area’s industrial history. The 8th and Bluxome side, which opens on a private alley, is clad in random-batten siding with a wavy, “pleated-fabric” silhouette.
Inside, the ground floor spaces mix natural and industrial tones, including weathered wood paneling, exposed ductwork, and geometric metal accent walls. Over 10,000 feet of original Douglas Fir timber from the Concourse building was milled down for reuse as ceilings, walls, bars, and benches in the common areas.
The community is LEED for Homes Platinum certified, and features rooftop solar, car and bicycle parking, and a rooftop deck with an outdoor kitchen.