Cesar Pelli commissioned for One Market renovation

Real Estate Weekly, Feb 2, 1993

World renowned architect Cesar Pelli has been commissioned to oversee all design aspects of a multi-million dollar renovation program at One Market, the 1.4 million square foot commercial office complex at the foot of Market Street in San Francisco.

The proposed renovation will include the redesign of all public areas of the interior lobby space, and portions of the complex's exterior. The program is designed to elevate the image and status of One Market (formerly known as One Market Plaza) to one of San Francisco's premier office complexes.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has named Pelli one of the 10 most influential living American architects. AIA has cited his design of the World Financial Center and Winter Garden in New York City as one of the ten best works of American architecture completed since 1980. AIA also awarded Cesar Pelli & Associates its 1989 Firm Award in recognition of a decade of standardsetting work in architectural design.

Distinguished California projects by Pelli include the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood; the new 777 South Figueroa Tower in Los Angeles; and the Plaza Tower in Costa Mesa. This will be his first work in Northern California.

Other well-known achievements include Camegie Hall Tower and the Museum of Modern Art's (MOMA) Gallery Expansion and Residential Tower all in New York City. Besides One Market, other recent commissions include a master plan proposal for Twin Dome City in Fukuoka, Japan and a 1,000-room Resort Hotel, also in Fukuoka.

Jack Gold public relations director of Cesar Pelli & Associates explains that Pelli makes design decisions based on each project's unique situation. He does not approach a project with a predetermined style or form. For this reason his designs range broadly in materials and conceptions.

As with any commercial project Pelli admits there are constraints - the limits of an architectural program the limits of site of budget, of the very nature of architecture as an art. But instead of resenting these limits Pelli believes that! constraints encourage art.