Tall & Urban News

CTBUH visited San Francisco and saw The Vertical City exhibition, showcasing the tall buildings designed by Norman Foster and his firm Foster + Partners, held on the ground floor of the newly renovated Transamerica Pyramid Center. As skyscraper enthusiasts, this select assembly of models and drawings spanning 60 years was exciting to see and doesn’t disappoint.

Near the entrance is a large photograph of the Transamerica Pyramid Center by famed architectural photographer Julius Shulman, providing historic context to the landmark building’s stature in the city. A site model with the building and an adjacent drawing beside it are artifacts of the firm’s study behind revitalizing this icon and also redeveloping the historic Redwood Park surrounding it. The renovation was completed in 2024. Other images in another part of the room show the before and after of the ground floor (including the space the exhibition is in) and the subtle yet strong moves of unveiling the structure as a feature, celebrating the 1972 original design of William L. Pereira and Associates and giving the space new life.

Intricate models at various scales, many designs which have been built, are lined up. Interestingly, two of the unbuilt projects show the span of Foster’s thinking and design for urban vertical living. The first to mention is a graduate project from 1962 of an office building that curves to the site and creates protected plazas. Potentially influential towards his design for the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Headquarters in Hong Kong which steps in recognition of its siting, and has large atriums. The exoskeleton building model is prominently on display.

The second unbuilt project of note is the Millennium Tower in Tokyo, a visionary proposition in 1989 reacting to expanding urban centers and megacities. Elements of it make one think of today’s coastal developments in Dubai. Challenging assumptions about urban expansion and lack of land, the mixed-use skyscraper would be self-sustaining in energy, amenities, and has integrated gardens and terraces for everyday well-being. This is paired with an engineering scheme expressed on the building to withstand extreme winds and earthquakes.

Foster’s work has consistently focused on how engineering and technology are just as important as the aesthetic design, and these often become the bold features of the architecture. Seen in model and drawing is the office building 30 St Mary Axe (also known as The Gherkin) in London. The firm pioneered energy-efficient solutions, such as natural ventilation and daylight optimization, wrapped in its iconic geometries. It won the CTBUH 10-Year Award in 2013, honoring its lasting influence on skyscraper design and sustainability.

Other projects in The Vertical City are the Commerzbank Tower, Frankfurt; Deutsche Bank Place, Sydney; Hearst Tower and 425 Park Avenue, New York; NBK Tower, Kuwait City; and others. It is an impressive display and a well-curated example of the global influence that Foster + Partners has had on vertical urbanism. The only wish is that the space were larger to hold more of this incredible work from the past 60 years.  

The exhibition has been extended for viewing until 13 May 2025.

Learn more at Transamerica Pyramid.