San Francisco Centre building, Californian mall food court architecture, USA Westfield Emporium design

San Francisco Centre – Mall Renewal

July 23, 2025

Location: 865 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States

Architecture: 10 Design

With San Francisco Centre slated for public auction on 24 July 2025, international design practice 10 Design (formerly SB Architects) reimagined the property and the surrounding city block as a catalyst for community redevelopment and district revitalization in the heart of San Francisco.

images courtesy of architects practice

San Francisco Centre, 865 Market Street, California

In early 2024, the mall was briefly rebranded as Emporium Centre, a nod to the 19th-century department store that once occupied the site. Following a failed repositioning effort, and with foreclosure proceedings underway, the name has since reverted to San Francisco Centre.

Ahead of the auction, 10 Design has developed a proposal that reflects San Francisco’s broader investment in urban renewal – from green spaces to cultural infrastructure. Ideally positioned between Union Square and Yerba Buena Center, the site is seen as pivotal to the city’s revitalization efforts. Their vision includes a dynamic mix of retail, market-rate and affordable housing, hospitality, branded residences, educational and cultural spaces, and a parking garage. This dynamic combination fosters an inclusive urban district that adapts to the evolving needs of San Franciscans, ensuring a resilient and thriving community for years to come. By embracing the SF Centre as a transformative link between Union Square and Yerba Buena Center, 10 Design aims to create a sustainable urban destination that serves as a testament to the city’s vibrant spirit and unwavering commitment to progress.

With the theme of Open Space, 10 Design proposes a bold reimagining of San Francisco Centre – a departure from the traditional ‘big box mall’ and a return to the civic grandeur once embodied by the Golden Rule Bazaar. Their vision breaks the monolithic footprint into a series of distinctive garden courtyards, creating a well-rounded, amenity-rich community in the heart of the city.

10 Design’s plans for San Francisco Centre were inspired by The Grove in Los Angeles, a beloved open-air destination anchored by a historic farmers market and designed around a walkable “main street” experience. Like The Grove, the vision places retail at the heart of the experience, creating a magnetic destination for both locals and tourists alike.

The project plan also accounts for residential living thoughtfully integrated into the edges of the block, framing a series of lush, open-air courtyards and pedestrian zones. A central plaza lined with retail and dining becomes the social heart of this new Urban Village, inviting movement, gathering, and discovery throughout the day. At its core, the plan champions accessible, inclusive public space while building toward a dynamic, mixed-use future for downtown San Francisco.

Courtyards and rooftop terraces are programmed to host everything from wellness workshops and educational pop-ups to live performances and local markets. Each space is curated around a theme: retail, entertainment, health, wellness, education or community. Meanwhile, the design of publicly accessible ground-level and podium terraces reflects the semi-private residential balconies above, fostering a layered sense of belonging.

10 Design believes that San Francisco’s unparalleled legacy of innovation and ingenuity, already evident in the transformation of Mission Bay and Dogpatch into thriving, well-connected neighborhoods, holds the key to breathing new life into the heart of Downtown.

Renowned for high-profile projects across the United States, including the Miami Design District, Santana Row, Raleigh Downtown South, Esplande at Aventura, 10 Design is well positioned to lead a pivotal mixed-use redevelopment in San Francisco.

Their expertise spans the full spectrum of contemporary urban life, bringing together next-generation retail, hospitality, residential, workspace, and social infrastructure to create vibrant, inclusive communities that reflect the needs and aspirations of 21st-century cities.

10 Design

10 Design is a global architecture practice built out of collaboration, imagination, and agility. Our 400 architects and designers work across nine studios in strategic locations across the world – London, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Dallas, Dubai, Edinburgh, Miami, Shenzhen, and Singapore.

10 Design bring together international reach with local nuance, designing and delivering projects at all scales and complexities. Our varied and innovative portfolio covers a broad range of sectors – mixed use, retail, office, residential, hospitality, life sciences, education, civic and cultural – and increasingly combines uses, drawing from our world bank of expertise. In this work, we see the opportunity for architecture to become instrumental in unlocking the planet’s most pressing environmental, social and commercial challenges.

Founded in 2010, our studio – uniquely – operated across multiple locations right from the start. In 2017 we became part of something bigger, joining Egis as a member of their Architecture Line. Continuing our growth, we joined forces with SB Architects in the United States in 2022 and, united, now work together across more than 60 countries. Find out more at www.10design.co

San Francisco Centre building design images / information received 230725

Address: 865 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States of America.

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