Morphosis and Arup engineers create dynamic form that follows function for the U.S. FEDERAL BUILDING in San Francisco

摘要

The southeast facade of the U.S. Federal Building in San Francisco is covered with a perforated-stainless-steel scrim that seems at once to be a diaphanous veil and a sharp-edged protective shell. And the dual nature of this 18-story office tower seems just right for its rapidly changing but still gritty environs, where pawn shops sit cheek by jowl with luxury condos. Completed in March, the 240-foot-tall tower dominates the mostly low-rise South of Market skyline and is reportedly snarling traffic on nearby Interstate 80 as drivers slow down to take a look. But its height and gutsy exterior are not the only reasons the Federal Building is getting attention. It also has a set of ambitious environmental goals.