Planning and Design of A New Public Open Space Wharf

This paper describes the planning, assessment and design challenges faced by the Port of San Francisco and the project team for a new public open space adjacent to The Embarcadero in downtown San Francisco. The Brannan Street Wharf (BSW) will be a major new open space constructed over the water in the heart of the South Beach neighborhood in San Francisco. Located on the Embarcadero Promenade between Pier 30-32 and Pier 38, and replacing Piers 34 and 36, the new wharf will provide 57,000 square feet of new public open space. Constructed over the water, the new wharf will be 830 feet in length with a width of 40 and 140 feet on opposing ends. In addition to seating, viewing and plaza spaces, the wharf will feature a 400-foot long neighborhood green to accommodate various recreational uses. The design team performed site investigations, conceptual engineering design of structural alternatives, design development and design demolition of existing wharf structure, and final design for the new wharf. Seismic design of the pile-supported wharf was performed in accordance with the methodology in the Port of Long Beach Wharf Design Criteria and ASCE Seismic Design of Pile-Supported Piers and Wharves.