Treasure Island is a 393-acre man-made island adjacent to Yerba Buena Island in the heart of San Francisco Bay. SOM created a new vision and master plan for the island, which is now poised to be a prominent, dynamic San Francisco community that is socially and economically diverse and supported by close-knit neighborhoods, unprecedented open space, resource-conserving technology, and a robust network of transportation choices.
SOM’s vision for Treasure Island drew fundamentally from sustainable principles and the powerful appeal of island life, breathtaking downtown views and physical and emotional connections to San Francisco. The design proposes three compact neighborhoods centered around an energizing mixed-use hub and ferry terminal, all set within the 275-acre Great Park. The organization of fine-grained, inter-connected neighborhoods encourages walking, bicycling and public transit use, helping to reduce vehicular traffic and fuel consumption.
By rotating the conventional street grid 35 degrees, transverse streets are oriented north-south, providing direct southern sun, while an angled secondary street grid mitigates the frequent and powerful westerly winds. The dense, transit-oriented land-use pattern preserves more land for open space, natural habitats, and storm water management, while conserving material resources per dwelling unit.
Sustainable strategies built into the plan include: solid waste diversion (residential waste composted and used in organic farms), carbon emissions anticipated to decrease 60% per person per year, a new generation of wind turbines placed artfully in the landscape, and hydraulic systems that utilize grey water, maximize reuse and decrease dependence on San Francisco connections. Green building practices will also include rooftop designs that incorporate solar generation.
The Treasure Island Master Plan regenerates the social, economic and natural environment through the design of urban space, architecture and landscape. It represents San Francisco’s best opportunity to accommodate growth in a way that presents a minimal ecological footprint.
Sustainable Attributes:
- Approximately 300 acres of open space
- 100% of Treasure Island population within a 15-minute walk to transit hub and town center
- Less than 5% peak increase to Bay Bridge traffic volumes in either direction
- 100% of new landscaping is native species
- Less than 40% of landscaping will require irrigation
- Exceed California’s Building Efficiency Standards (Title 24) by 20%
- 10% lower peak energy demand than baseline development built to California building code standards
- Generate minimum of 5% peak power demand from on-island renewable sources
- Use renewable grid-source power for 100% of the power supply
- Consume 20% less potable water than Energy Policy Act fixture performance requirements
- Treat 100% of storm water on site
- Recycle 25% wastewater to be used for irrigation
- 75% diversion of solid waste from landfills by 2010 and 100% diversion by 2020
- 100% of organic waste composted on-site
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