One Rincon Hill I & II is a residential complex under construction in San Francisco that consists of two skyscrapers - a 45 story 495 foot tall north tower and a 60 story 641 foot tall south tower, which will have unique elements like high speed elevators and a large water tank to withstand winds and earthquakes. The complex is being designed by Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz and Associates and developed by Urban West Associates, and will contain a total of 709 residential units across the two towers and a common townhouse podium they share.

1. One Rincon Hill I & II
One Rincon Hill is a residential complex that is currently
under construction on the apex of Rincon Hill in San
Francisco, California, United States. The complex,
designed by Solomon, Cordwell, Buenz and Associates
and developed by Urban West Associates, consists of
two skyscrapers that share a common townhouse
podium. One tower, One Rincon Hill North Tower, is
planned to reach a height 495 feet (151 m) with 45
stories. The other tower, One Rincon Hill South Tower, is
60 stories and stands 641 feet (195 m) tall. The South
Tower contains a number of unique elements, such as
high-speed elevators for moving residents effectively,
and a large water tank designed to help the skyscraper
withstand strong winds and earthquakes. Both
skyscrapers and the townhomes contain a total of 709
residential units.
In order to support the 60 story condo tower, One
Rincon Hill South Tower will have a 12 foot (4 m) thick
massive foundation embedded deep into serpentine
rock. Rising out of the foundation are the concrete core
and large, tall columns of steel-reinforced concrete
called outriggers. The core is attached to large outrigger
columns by steel-buckling restrained braces that are
designed to transfer building loads in an earthquake.
These V-shaped restraining braces are said to act like a
shock-absorber during earthquakes. The braces are also
encased in a concrete and steel casing in order to
prevent the braces from buckling and losing their
strength. Many of these engineering technologies used
in One Rincon Hill South Tower are new to the United
States.
This was the first project I worked on while at Solomon
Cordwell Buenz. I had the opportunity to work on both
the residential towers. On the phase I of the tower I
assisted with construction administration and shop
drawings. My responsibilities on the phase II included
detailing and coordinating the waterproofing, expan-
sion joint and landscape details. I worked on the section
and detailing of trash chute. I also had the opportunity
to layout the geometry plan for the project.

2. Main Program Elements
- Improvement to the exterior facade included wrapping
the spandrel glass system to the new glassed entryway.
- Reception area designed with materials including granite
pavers, bamboo plants in low river rock planter beds to
create an outdoor feeling, a welcoming 3-form art wall
and reception counter finished with with blue enviro glass
and bamboo veneer.
- Juice Bar / food Area with cafe tables and high bar area
with cool cobalt blue pendant lights,
- Aerobics room with mirrors to create a dynamic feeling
and soft bamboo flooring.
- Yoga room with soothing wall colors is softly lit with
uplights and highlighted with amber colored pendant
lights.
- Locker rooms providing 260 lockers with shower rooms
designed to recall the characteristics of water, with both
sauna and steam room.
- Massage rooms with soothing wall colors and accented
with appropriate light fixtures to create a relaxing
ambience.
- Fitness area for cardio and strength training with indirect
lighting and vibrant wall colors to create an energetic
environment.
- Gymnasium with basketball court with vibrant red
bleachers and wall pads.
- Trainers office which over looks the main fitness area
for ease of supervision.
- Complete seismic upgrade and ADA upgrade to all
areas.
- Complete upgrade of mechanical and electrical services.
Project Data
Design Duration: January 2006 to August 2006
Construction Duration: April 2006 to November 2006
Square Footage: 24,167 sf
Consultants:
Exterior Renovation: Korth Sunseri Hagey Architects
Interior Design: Korth Sunseri Hagey Architects
Structural Engineer: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
Electrical Engineer: Cupertino Electric
MEPS Engineering: C & B Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineer: Wilsey Ham
Landscape Architect: The Guzzardo Partnership, Inc.

3. MARVELL CORPORATION Cafeteria:
The 850,000 square foot Marvell Semiconductor Campus is
Main Program Elements
located on the former site of the 3COM Headquarters in
Santa Clara, California. Completed in the early 1990’s, the - The Servery area was refurbished with new maple veneer
3COM campus lacked any sense of clarity or quality, with a for the servery equipments,new ceiling and lighting,new
collection of poorly designed buildings clad with dark glass stained concrete flooring
and EIFS panels. Marvell Semiconductor purchased the - The existing 3 Com Kitchen was upgraded with new ceiling
property in 2004 and hired Korth Sunseri Hagey Architects and lighting, new epoxy flooring.
to redesign the campus to become Marvell’s Headquarters. - The Dining area was redesigned with earthy colored
The scheme involved stripping the existing buildings down to concrete flooring and warm colored walls and seats
structural steel, combining several buildings to provide larger approximately 700 persons
and more efficient floor plates, and installing a new high - New Coffee Shop with vibrant wall colors and informal
quality curtain wall system consistent with Marvell’s hi-tech seating area.
image. Located on a highly visible site along Highway 237, - Complete upgrade of mechanical and electrical services.
the Marvell Headquarters has become a symbol of pride for
The City of Santa Clara.

4. LUCAS RESIDENCE,San Anselmo

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7. Transit Oriented Development:Catalytic Projects
We are aware of the scenario that with the introduction of the automobiles the large scale
suburbanization has made the once thriving downtowns into empty passerby streets and
unhealthy neighborhoods for day to day living. The pedestrian life in these empty streets
declines after a certain area and time into unsafe and deserted neighborhoods. The question
is whether we should wait and see the evolution of transit to lead to a solution, to make a Precedents:-
better scenario, or do we need new thinking and a new approach? Light Industry Typology Study:-
Project Description:- The Light Industry Typology study was essentially done in order to study the functional
Introduction to the site:- system and various systems which are vital to understand light industries. The main category
The site needed to be near downtown Los Angeles where already a reasonably complex of light industry is garment industry, wholesale and retail activity related to this industry, a
transit structure thrives. It should be offering various options of modes of transport both number of auto repair shops and spare part dealers, air conditioning and refrigeration related
public and private. It needed to be a part of a neighborhood housing significant institutions, a wholesale.
corridor which currently heavily traversed by pedestrians.
Analysis vital to the project:-
The existing typology of this region is two storeys, make shift box type. Material used for
construction is mainly brick. The typical depth of the plot varies from 60 feet to about 100
feet. Highlighted in the diagrams above are the various typical functional spaces: The loading
unloading bay perpendicular to the main street, the main light industry zone and an office/
retail front to the street.
Panoramic view of the site
View of the site along Grand Avenue Analysis vital to the project:-
Del Mar Station is a good example of a TOD in the form of a residential project. The Del
Mar Station project tries to maintain the scale along the street edges to those of the
existing buildings and higher density towards the center of the site. It houses the right mix
View of the site along Washington Boulevard
of housing types to ensure mixing of various income groups. It aptly addresses the issue of
The Site sits at an important junction not incorporating excessive retail and commerce in a typically residential project. More so
where on one hand is the light rail it carefully takes care of courtyard spaces though proportion of built to unbuilt is not
station: “Grand Avenue”, the La Trade
Tech College, Grand Olympic Auditorium
and California Medical Center along Grand
Avenue and the Municipal Courts and LA
Mart along Washington Avenue. It is
flanked by the freeway I-10 and I-110.
The site holds enormous importance if
seen in the light of a project with a TOD
template.
The Site is also part of the Council Courtyard housing type was studied in the light that the project would house typical Southern
District Nine in the Community Redevel- California Multifamily dwelling in Los Angeles. The typical court types that were studied were
opment Agency project areas. The 2817 essentially the U-shaped courtyards, the dispersed court type and the street type. Of these
acre of this district is focused on the types studied the design was much inspired by the street type of court which is typical of
economic development through urban residential streets, involving the right courtyard proportions.
commercial and industrial revitalization.
Del Mar Station :
Objectives:- The Del Mar Station is a housing project designed
• Identify the role of transit, in combination with supportive public policies and institutions, in by Moule & Polyzoides around the Metro Gold line
influencing the built environment at transit stations and in transit corridors. station Del Mar between downtown Los Angeles
• Identify the unique cultural institutional issues and barriers which mediate between transit and Pasadena. It houses 347 housing units with
and urban form. subterranean garage for 1200 cars, 2000 sq ft of
• Furnish case studies of designs useful to visualize a successful TOD setting and station Peabody Terrace is a married student housing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, designed by Sert, Jackson
retail area along Raymond Avenue and around the
& Gourley. Their mission was to reorganize the site and provide a transition to the surrounding
area development and analysis of these outcomes. light rail station. One third of the ground area is
neighborhood. It is an exposed concrete façade, reinforced concrete skeleton frame structure. It is
• Study various design options to come to a design solution optimum for success of the open for public use in ways of courtyards for
interesting how the courtyards are designed to house various outdoor activities. There exists a good mix
neighborhood and transit corridor. housing and waiting spaces for transit users. of high rise and medium rise buildings.

8. Transit Oriented Development:Catalytic Projects
Figueroa Corridor:-
The Site shares adjacency to the “Service District” of the
Figueroa Corridor. The Figueroa Corridor Economic
Development Strategy describes means for implementing
public and private improvement plans. The Figueroa
Corridor has a vision of achieving five goals:-
- Guarantee the further leadership and involvement.
- Secure funding.
- Create a success story.
- Raise the visibility of the corridor.
- Obtain broad acceptance a policy support.
The strategic vision for the service district was to develop
infill projects that will strengthen bridge to the adjacent
districts. Key uses they foresaw were technology/ media
FIGUEROA CORRIDOR center, auto sales, incubator business and the services
related to support them. In the background of this vision
one cannot really decipher the future of the district.
Landuse Analysis:-
The Zone in which the site lies is essentially has an
industrial character. Two storey box type, having adjacency
to districts which are zoned for commercial typology and
residential neighborhood. It also houses a number of
institutional projects 1) LA Trade Tech 2) Grand Olympic
Auditorium 3) Patriotic Hall 4) Municipal Courts 5)
Orthopedic Hospital & 6) California Hospital Medical
LANDUSE ANALYSIS Center which are vital to the neighborhood as well as the
city. Numerous valuable empty lots are presently being
used parking lots. This District also contains retail spaces
on the pedestrian level along the Washington Boulevard
which are presently in a rundown condition.
Modes of Transportation Analysis:-
The District is supported by a good transportation system
of the rail: Blue Line Metro, the Metro Buses, the DASH &
municipal buses. The Blue Line is the most successful of
these systems in terms of ridership and frequency followed
by the DASH and the Metro Buses. The transport system
TRANSPORTATION has its own flaws and fails to address the following
issues:-
- The issue of pedestrian space within the transit corridor
and transit related project.
- To provide good way finding device for the pedestrian
and automobile drivers to get to their destination.
- Additional transportation network to reach into the
residential neighborhoods not connected.
Street network analysis:-
This District houses a network of streets with Grand
Avenue acting as the arterial street connecting the
Southern District with Downtown. The freeway I-10
STREETS marking a major divider with two exists into the district.
Washington Boulevard acts as a collector street and
connectors various neighborhoods. Broadway and
Figueroa act as passing connector streets. Numerous
service streets supporting the light industrial plots. Grand
Avenue, Broadway and Main are wide street but do not
address the issue of pedestrian related activities.
Activity hubs analysis:-
There are not many pedestrian hubs in this district except
for the ones around the LA Trade Tech College, The
California Hospital Medical Center and the retails at the
ACTIVITY HUB
intersection at Los Angeles and Washington Avenue.

9. Growth of the city through time:-
Before the establishment of the castle there appeared a large settlement north of the now existing Prague
Prague: a journey through medieval times castle, in the basin that forms the Bubenec. Few centuries later the Celtic settlers, the Boji tribe inhabited the
c. Renaissance Prague:- terrain. 5th and 6th century saw the arrival of the first Slavs,they established their settlement and trade center
Introduction The importance of prague as the royal seat dimished at the at the foot of the hilly territory in the 7th and 8th century - 870 the Prague castle was founded whose location
beginning of the 16th century and population decreased. Yet made it possible to control all important fords in the area - 9th century saw the establishment of Vysehrad on the
There is a legend connected with the founding of Prague.In around AD 800, opposite bank of the river - Beginning of the 10th century the Jewish settlers established their settlement at the
Countess Libuse, a woman with great powers of divination, sent her henchman the commercial prosperity was undetered and the city ford across the Vltava -973 the bishopric founded its seat at the castle - end of the 10th century a wooden
into the forest with instructions to found a town at the spot where they saw a continued to undergo substantial renovation. bridge was constructed to connect the castle with the right bank of the Vltava - 1041 the castle was fortified in
ploughman (premyusl) constructing the threshold of the house.She married the a typical Romanesque style - 11th century marked the set up of the Old Town market place and Tyn, forming the
d. Baroque Prague:- royal trading stations and custom houses - 1070 the Vysehrad was recontructed in romanesque fashion. In
ploughman( thus establishing the Premyslid dynasty) from her palace at Prague got it’s foremost architectural expressions in the 1170 the first stone bridge was constructed.In 1230's the town on the right bankof the Vltava was ramparted
Vrshrad, situated on a rocky outcrop above the right bank of the Vltava, Baroque period. In the early 17th century the city went forming the medeival settlement with Old Town marketplace area
predicted that the new town, later be called Praha or Prague, would have a through catholic reformation which led to massive construc-
future so glorious that it's fame would reach the stars.(michael pg. 9) tion of churches, convents and monastic colleges. b. Medieval Prague (1235-1400)
Setting:- 1257 the lesser town-Mala Strana on the left bank to the Vltava was founded and its bounding walls at Prague
Analysis of existing city:- castle were connected to the Stone Bridge -1348 saw the climax of the development of Prague as a medieval
The city of Prague is located amongst the scenic settings of the hills of
town by founding of the New Town of Prague by the King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV. The
Hradcana and Petrin on the western edge and the steep cliff of Vysehrad and new town covering 360 ha had three marketplaces - 1360 Charles IV reconstructed the lesser town of Prague
a. Solid Void Study:-
Vitkov. Seated on the stratergic location of the Bohemian plateau the river and fortified Hradcany by new ramparts along the perimeters - 1375 Pohorelec was founded - 1380 the Old
The Old Town of Prague is a typical example of a medieval
Vltava cuts through the plateau, creating a meandering wide loop through its Town Bridge tower was constructed,both the Prague castles enhanced the city with new buildings including the
city, organic Building blocks with formal facades and royal palace and chiefly the St. Vitus cathedral. At the same time the archbishop was set up in Prague together
precincts.
amorphous courtyards, narrow streets radiating out from the with the oldest Central European medieval university - 1360 the Romanesque bridge was washed away by the
Old Town Square and large market square. flood and was replaced by a new more gothic bridge.1338-91 The Old Town hall of The Old Town was
constructed.
b. Squares:-
The Old Town Square acts as a market square and church
square with all major streets converging to it (the square is c. Renaissance and Baroque Period (1400-1815):-
linked to the Prague castle by the Charles bridge0. The From the mid of the 13th century to the beginning of the 16th century the Gothic artistic scene dominated the
Chares Square and the Wenceslas Square form key parts of Kingdom of Bohemia. It’s influence was so strong that the gothic motives are seen in the works of Renaissance
the fourteenth century expension of th city under Charles IV. and Baroque architects. The turn of the 16th and 17th century, under the rule of Emperor Rudolph II, Prague once
again became the center of the Holy Roman Empire.At this time the renaissance architecture reached its peak in
c. Streets:- Prague with the construction of a number of palaces and gardens for aristocracy, houses for the burghes, town
The residential streets are typically narrow leading to a public gates and town halls.1620 saw the defeat of the Czech, mainly non-catholic, Estates against the emperor resulted
square. The newly developed streets are more grid iron and in the economic exhaustion along with the start of the process of ruthless re-catholization thus resulting in a large
wider. amount of migration of population and permanent removal of the ruling seat to Vienna. Thus for the next 300 years
Prague became the provincial town of the Habsburg monarchy. The depopulation of the 1630 lead to the
d.Waterways:- expansion of the cityscape in terms of construction of large building complexes. The end of 17th and 18th century
The Vltava forms the meandering bisector of the city, forming saw the decline of the economy and power after 30 years of war. After which the city recovered and rembarked
the western and northern side of The Old Town; the defensive on the Baroque construction. In 1760-81 the city avenues such as Na Prikope and Narodni were the two of the
wall with it’s moat was demolished in 1760 to from the first boulevards that were created. In 1784 the four towns- Old Town, Lesser Town,
present-day east bank inner-ring boulevard. d. The 19th century Prague (1815-1918):-
1817 set up the scene of setting up of the first industrial suburb of Prague, Karlin, built behind the Procini
gateway, followed by Smichov, Holesovice and Bubny. The first half of the 19th century saw the demolition and
reconstruction of the Old Town, building up of the city infrastructure, sewage system and Prague’s first gas
works.1840-78 five new bridges were built across the Vltava.1845-70 the railway line south to Vienna and
north to Dresden and Berlin also the railway station was constructed. 1893-96 the ramparts of the jewish town
were torn down. And it became the fifth district of Prague - 1874-76 the city walls were torn down. In
Historic character of the city of Prague:- 1893-96 The Old Jewish town was torn down and Parizka Avenue and Na rejidisti Square were built. End of the
Though Prague was in the midst of the restless Europe, it never succumbed to 19th century the national theatre and museum and other Czech and German national were constructed in the
the destructive influences, never underwent a fundamental reconstruction. neo-renaissance style. In 1891 the horse drawn cars were electrified. Also Prague began to become an
agglomeration of the suburbs and the old town which today houses more than a million residents
Everything remained preserved, anything that was new grew out of the old-
The Romanesque city plan, the Gothic parceling of land, Renaissance and
Baroque street facades- this is what makes up the fabric of Pragues current
appearance. e. Prague the capital of Czechoslovak Republic (1918-1948):-
a.Romanesque Prague:- Prague became the capital of the newly created Czechoslovak Republic. In 1919 The Prague Castle was declared
The Prague castle was established as the seat of royalty around 850 A.D., the seat of the President, many palaces were turned into administrative offices. Merger of 37 communities
leading to a process of erection of building reflecting the importance of the formed the Greater Prague established on the territory of 174 square Km with over 670,000 inhabitants. The
ruler’s residence. Later Vysehrad was built across on the opposite bank on state regulatory commission was formed to examine the urban concept with a view towards more construction. In
the Vltava. The Romanesque core is defined by the establishment of 1929 a directive plan was adopted. IN the twenties new settlements in Bubenec were set up mainly in Dejvice
presti-gious buildings like the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul. These were where architect Antonin Engel applied his urbanist theories. The thirties saw the appearance of small flats.
concentrated around the Old Town Square (Straromestske namesti) and the However the construction was halted because of war. But Prague’s historical core escaped destruction
streets leading from it. They lined significantly along the connecting route
between the square and Vysehrad, today’s Husova and Jilska Streets. Most of
these buildings were constructed from small cretaceous marly limestone
blocks. Frequently they were located on small fortified lots, raised two
stories, accessed by exterior stairways. The halls were vaulted onto central
f. Metropolis Prague (1948-1995):-
pillars with handsomely shaped capitals. In 1948 the communist government was operating which laid stress on extensive pre-fabrication construction. In
1957-90 large housing estates were constructed on the outskirts. Along with these many new modern building
b.Gothic Prague: - were erected having much negative impact on the city. In 1962-68 the new airport was constructed in Ruzyne.
The city was fortified and small defensive buildings were rebuilt into comfort- In 1967 the underground metro work began. Basic network of highways went crisscross across the city.
able town residences. The street grid was logically organized and the religious
buildings had more space. The city grew gradually, the Havel quarter was
established and several settlements, at the foot of the Castle were merged
into Lesser Town of Prague.The greatest development took place during the
reign of Charles IV, who made the city worth being the seat of the of the
Roman Emperor.

10. I have worked with
3DS MAX WORKSHOP
3Ds MAX for the last
3 years, starting from
graduate school. I
also had the privi-
lege of attending the
3Ds Max workshop
organized by Solo-
mon Cordwell Buenz
for employees that
would be part of the
design team.
In the project exhib-
ited on this page I
modelled the base
model in AUTOCAD,
imported it into 3Ds
MAX, applied V-ray
material and
rendered it using
V-ray. The challeng-
ing part of the
rendering was
making the glass
look realistic, getting
the sun angles right
so as to achieve
good color rendering
quality of the vertical
surfaces.