Encinal Tower
Encyclopedia
The Encinal Tower is a skyscraper
proposed for construction in Downtown Oakland
, California
. The mixed-use tower is planned to rise 715 feet (218 m) and contain 56 floor
s for office and residential use. The current project design consists of a glass and X-bracing-covered cylindrical building with one side that resembles a roll of fabric unraveling. If built, the skyscraper would easily be the tallest building in Oakland and third-tallest in the Bay Area
after 555 California Street and the Transamerica Pyramid
, both located in San Francisco
. The project has undergone several design and name changes since it was first proposed in 2006.
a few blocks away from Lake Merritt
and right next to the 19th Street BART station
. The site is bounded by Broadway, Franklin, 19th, and 20th streets. Several lowrise buildings and a parking lot currently inhabit the proposed building site. The developers of the project are Chengben (Peter) Wang, and Encinal; the architect
is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
The building has the shape of an oval cylinder with one side that curves outward and downward. Its exterior skin consists of glass and X-braces with a horizontal line passing through the center of the X. The large tower is planned to stand 715 ft (218 m) tall with 56 floors and contain 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²) of floor space. The majority (790000 sq ft (73,393.4 m²)) of this space would consist of offices, 320000 sq ft (29,729 m²) would go to parking, and 75000 sq ft (6,967.7 m²) for retail space. The top 22 floors of the skyscraper will house 220 residential units or ten units per floor. There will be a large, 60 ft (18 m) lobby housing artwork at the base of the building. The building's floorplates will average 32000 sq ft (2,972.9 m²) in size. Wang intends on making this building a landmark for the city of Oakland.
At 715 ft (218 m) in height, the proposed skyscraper would far surpass the 404 ft (123 m)-tall Ordway Building
as the tallest building in Oakland and tallest in the Bay Area outside San Francisco. The building would come in as the third-tallest in the Bay Area overall, after the 779 ft (237 m)-tall 555 California Street and the 853 ft (260 m)-tall Transamerica Pyramid.
system. He came up with three different designs for the all-office building, ranging from 44 floors - 603 ft (184 m) to 63 floors - 827 ft (252 m). However, the proposal changed into a mixed-use building after the University of California dropped out on the project. The new design consisted of a 827 ft (252 m) (the 63rd-floor was at 782 ft (238 m) above street level) skyscraper containing 1,007 parking spaces in an 11-story garage, 1090000 square feet (101,264.3 m²) of office space on 48 floors, 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) of retail / lobby space, a 150-room hotel, and a direct connection the 19th Street BART station. The original project sechedule called for a construction groundbreaking in 2007 and completion of the skyscraper in 2009.
In mid-2007, the name of the project changed to 1938 Broadway and the building was scaled down to 790 ft (241 m) with 59 floors. The design of the building had 1700000 sq ft (157,935.2 m²) of gross space, with 1100000 sq ft (102,193.3 m²) of office space on 45 floors, a 12 story, 1,019 parking space garage with an area of 346650 sq ft (32,204.8 m²), and a 116-room hotel taking up 141100 sq ft (13,108.6 m²) of space. The parking garage, hotel, and office levels took up a total of 58 floors; the 59th floor was a mechanical floor
at 730 ft (223 m) above street level. The roof (level 60) was at en elevation of 745 ft (227 m) relative to the street. A 45 ft (14 m)-tall roof screen located on level 60 pushed the total building height to 790 ft (241 m). The revision also had two basement levels that connected the building to the 19th Street BART station. Once again, the developer submitted other designs for the project, including a 44-45 story office / residential building and one that had offices, residential units, and a hotel.
However, sometime in 2007 or 2008, Wang withdrew the proposal as he wasn't pleased with the various designs of the building. Encinal later came back and submitted another (the current) proposal in July 2008. The name of the project also changed; it is now referred to as Encinal Tower instead of its address 1938 Broadway.
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
proposed for construction in Downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland
Downtown Oakland is the central business district of Oakland, California; roughly bounded by 6th Street or the Oakland Estuary on the southwest, Interstate 980 on the northwest, Grand Avenue on the northeast, and Lake Merritt on the east....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The mixed-use tower is planned to rise 715 feet (218 m) and contain 56 floor
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
s for office and residential use. The current project design consists of a glass and X-bracing-covered cylindrical building with one side that resembles a roll of fabric unraveling. If built, the skyscraper would easily be the tallest building in Oakland and third-tallest in the Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
after 555 California Street and the Transamerica Pyramid
Transamerica Pyramid
The Transamerica Pyramid is the tallest skyscraper in the San Francisco skyline and one of its most iconic. Although the building no longer houses the headquarters of the Transamerica Corporation, it is still strongly associated with the company and is depicted in the company's logo...
, both located in San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The project has undergone several design and name changes since it was first proposed in 2006.
Description
The project is located in Downtown OaklandDowntown Oakland
Downtown Oakland is the central business district of Oakland, California; roughly bounded by 6th Street or the Oakland Estuary on the southwest, Interstate 980 on the northwest, Grand Avenue on the northeast, and Lake Merritt on the east....
a few blocks away from Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt is a large tidal lagoon that lies just east of downtown Oakland, California. It is surrounded by parkland and city neighborhoods. A popular 3.1 mile walking and jogging path runs along its perimeter...
and right next to the 19th Street BART station
19th Street/Oakland (BART station)
19th Street/Oakland is an underground Bay Area Rapid Transit station located at 19th Street and Broadway in Downtown Oakland. It is an official northbound transfer station along the BART system, since September 13, 2010....
. The site is bounded by Broadway, Franklin, 19th, and 20th streets. Several lowrise buildings and a parking lot currently inhabit the proposed building site. The developers of the project are Chengben (Peter) Wang, and Encinal; the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
is Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.
The building has the shape of an oval cylinder with one side that curves outward and downward. Its exterior skin consists of glass and X-braces with a horizontal line passing through the center of the X. The large tower is planned to stand 715 ft (218 m) tall with 56 floors and contain 1500000 sq ft (139,354.6 m²) of floor space. The majority (790000 sq ft (73,393.4 m²)) of this space would consist of offices, 320000 sq ft (29,729 m²) would go to parking, and 75000 sq ft (6,967.7 m²) for retail space. The top 22 floors of the skyscraper will house 220 residential units or ten units per floor. There will be a large, 60 ft (18 m) lobby housing artwork at the base of the building. The building's floorplates will average 32000 sq ft (2,972.9 m²) in size. Wang intends on making this building a landmark for the city of Oakland.
At 715 ft (218 m) in height, the proposed skyscraper would far surpass the 404 ft (123 m)-tall Ordway Building
Ordway Building
The Ordway Building is a skyscraper located in downtown Oakland, California. The building lies close to Oakland's Lake Merritt and the tower contains 28 stories of office space. There are eight corner offices per floor, since the skyscraper has a H-shaped floor plan...
as the tallest building in Oakland and tallest in the Bay Area outside San Francisco. The building would come in as the third-tallest in the Bay Area overall, after the 779 ft (237 m)-tall 555 California Street and the 853 ft (260 m)-tall Transamerica Pyramid.
History
The developers, Wang and Encinal, first proposed this project as 1930 Broadway sometime in 2006 as the new headquarters of University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
system. He came up with three different designs for the all-office building, ranging from 44 floors - 603 ft (184 m) to 63 floors - 827 ft (252 m). However, the proposal changed into a mixed-use building after the University of California dropped out on the project. The new design consisted of a 827 ft (252 m) (the 63rd-floor was at 782 ft (238 m) above street level) skyscraper containing 1,007 parking spaces in an 11-story garage, 1090000 square feet (101,264.3 m²) of office space on 48 floors, 40000 sq ft (3,716.1 m²) of retail / lobby space, a 150-room hotel, and a direct connection the 19th Street BART station. The original project sechedule called for a construction groundbreaking in 2007 and completion of the skyscraper in 2009.
In mid-2007, the name of the project changed to 1938 Broadway and the building was scaled down to 790 ft (241 m) with 59 floors. The design of the building had 1700000 sq ft (157,935.2 m²) of gross space, with 1100000 sq ft (102,193.3 m²) of office space on 45 floors, a 12 story, 1,019 parking space garage with an area of 346650 sq ft (32,204.8 m²), and a 116-room hotel taking up 141100 sq ft (13,108.6 m²) of space. The parking garage, hotel, and office levels took up a total of 58 floors; the 59th floor was a mechanical floor
Mechanical floor
A mechanical floor, mechanical penthouse, or mechanical level is a storey of a high-rise building that is dedicated to mechanical and electronics equipment. "Mechanical" is the most commonly used term, but words such as utility, technical, service, and plant are also used...
at 730 ft (223 m) above street level. The roof (level 60) was at en elevation of 745 ft (227 m) relative to the street. A 45 ft (14 m)-tall roof screen located on level 60 pushed the total building height to 790 ft (241 m). The revision also had two basement levels that connected the building to the 19th Street BART station. Once again, the developer submitted other designs for the project, including a 44-45 story office / residential building and one that had offices, residential units, and a hotel.
However, sometime in 2007 or 2008, Wang withdrew the proposal as he wasn't pleased with the various designs of the building. Encinal later came back and submitted another (the current) proposal in July 2008. The name of the project also changed; it is now referred to as Encinal Tower instead of its address 1938 Broadway.
See also
- Emerald Views - a residential skyscraper proposed for the west edge of Lake Merritt in the Lakeside Apartments DistrictLakeside Apartments District, Oakland, CaliforniaThe Lakeside Apartments District neighborhood, also known as The Gold Coast, and simply as The Lakeside, is one of Oakland, California's historic residential neighborhoods between its Downtown district and Lake Merritt...
- List of tallest buildings in Oakland